Hollywood writers and representatives of movie and television studios kept talking past a midnight deadline into the early hours of Tuesday morning to try and stave off a strike that could black out TV talk shows and soap operas.
"Your Negotiating Committee is pleased to report that we have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP that we can recommend for ratification", the WGA said in a statement to its members. The most recent strike began in November 2007 and lasted for 100-days of work stoppage, fueled by the WGA's demand for new media residuals and jurisdiction.
Variety said negotiations between the two sides began March 13 and stalled twice before Tuesday's agreement.
A particularly ripe issue was how writers should be treated when they work for television and streaming shows shoot fewer and fewer episodes per season.
After seven weeks of keeping the town on edge in fear of a writers strike, negotiators for the Writers Guild of America and the conglomerates reached a three-year deal early Tuesday without fanfare.
Although film productions might have been temporarily halted, the biggest area where the proposed strike would have damaged is late night comedy shows like Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien and Stephen Colbert.
Miley Cyrus returns to pop with breezy new single 'Malibu'
This is a very different Miley from her "Wrecking Ball" days, and you won't be able to stop watching. Cyrus shot into stardom by playing the titular role in Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana".
The WGA negotiating committee released a statement about the new deal that met numerous demands made by writers including secured paid parental leave for its members for the first time as well as new salary guidelines and additional support for the union's health plan. "The WGA mobilized in a powerful way, and I believe we made a positive compromise", WGA member and strike captain Jonathan Caren told LAist, praising the new agreement's structural change to writer payment structure, increase in residuals, maternity/paternity plan and raises in minimums.
The reason for that is simple: writers were spending more time working on individual episodes even though they were being paid per episode. Much of the broadcast summer time slots already are devoted to reality. "And, also for the first time ever, job protection on parental leave".
It's a major victory for the guilds, their leadership and their members, who made it abundantly clear over the last few months that they were ready and willing to strike if they didn't get what they wanted - a fair deal.
A strike would be first work stoppage by writers in almost a decade.
The WGA was set to strike if the two sides hadn't reached a deal by May 1. More details will be released after the WGA officially ratifies the agreement.
Comments