WGA Reaches Surprise Four-Year Deal with AMPTP Ahead of Contract Deadline
The Writers Guild of America has struck a surprise tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, reaching a deal on Saturday that would extend for four years rather than the usual three. The extended term provides the studios with an extra year without the threat of a strike.
Details were not immediately released, but the deal is expected to include a substantial cash infusion into the guild’s health fund, which has lost about $200 million over the last four years. The agreement now moves to two next steps: approval by the WGA board and ratification by members. Neither the WGA nor AMPTP commented on the terms.
This development stands in stark contrast to the previous contract cycle, when the WGA went on a 148-day strike to win gains on streaming residuals, TV staffing minimums, and other terms. There appears to be far less appetite for a work stoppage this time, especially given a broader industry slowdown. The WGA West staff, meanwhile, has been on strike for more than six weeks and would be needed to coordinate meetings and communications tied to any potential action.
Unlike recent practice, the WGA did not seek a member vote to authorize a strike, which would have required additional staff work. The health fund dominated the agenda, and while there was speculation that some benefit cuts might be necessary to curb rising costs, the specifics were not disclosed.
Beyond the health fund, the union pressed to preserve gains from 2023—particularly around streaming residuals and TV staffing minimums—and also sought to address artificial intelligence, including compensation if screenplays are used to train AI models.
The WGA contract was due to expire on May 1. The AMPTP still must reach deals with SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America. Studios had spent more than a month negotiating with SAG-AFTRA and DGA earlier this year but paused those talks to focus on the writers. SAG-AFTRA and DGA deals are both set to expire on June 30.
If finalized, the WGA agreement could serve as a template for deals affecting all three unions on issues that overlap across the industry.