WGA Ratify Deal With AMPTP, Officially Ending Strike
By Movieguide® Contributor
The writers’ guild members have overwhelmingly voted in favor of the new deal, officially ending the 148-day strike.
“Through solidarity and determination, we have ratified a contract with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of our combined membership,” WGA West President Meredith Stiehm said. “Together we were able to accomplish what many said was impossible only six months ago.”
The strike ended on September 23 when WGA and AMPTP negotiators came to a mutually agreed upon contract. While the negotiators signed off on the deal, the next step was to send it to the WGA East and WGA West leaders to approve, with the final step being a ratification vote from all 11,000 WGA members.
With enthusiastic support from the WGA negotiators, both the East and West branches of the WGA quickly approved the contract before sending it to a union-wide vote. The voting period took place from October 2-9, resulting in an overwhelming 8,435 in favor and only 90 members opposed of the 8,525 valid votes cast.
This ratification marks an important step for the entertainment industry, as it means that the strike is officially over, and writers can return to work with the new contract in place through May 1, 2026.
Pre-production on shows and movies is now underway as the writers return to work. The industry, however, remains crippled as the striking actors bar any projects from filming.
Since the WGA contract began its ratification process in September, the AMPTP has shifted its focus to getting the actors back to work. Many of their issues mirror concerns resolved in the WGA deal, such as better residual pay from streaming sites and the use of AI in the industry. However, the nuances in how these issues affect actors have kept them from finding a deal with the AMPTP.
Until a fair deal for the actors has been achieved, the WGA has encouraged its members to join the actors in their strike and continue to show them support and solidarity.
“Until the studios make a deal that addresses the needs of performers, WGA members will be on the picket lines, walking side-by-side with SAG-AFTRA in solidarity,” said WGA West President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen.
Movieguide® previously reported:
SAG and AMPTP finished a full week of negotiations and plan to continue next week as the two sides work to hammer out a deal and bring the entertainment industry back to full force.
“SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP met for a full day bargaining session and have concluded,” the two sides said in a joint statement earlier this week. “Negotiations will continue Friday, October 6, with the parties working internally over the weekend, resuming Monday, October 9.”
While the actors’ union has met with the AMPTP at other times during the strike, this one is different—and a more sincere effort—as top CEOs sit down for multi-day talks.
Specifically, this week, NBCUniversals’s Donna Langley, Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and Disney’s Bob Iger joined with SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and SAG-AFTRA’s Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez.
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