WGA & AMPTP to resume talks as US strike extends beyond 100 days

(CC: Izayah Ramos – unsplash)

The Writers Guild Of America (WGA) and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are to resume talks, as the US strike extends beyond 100 days.

The WGA and the AMPTP held a meeting last week in a bid to get the discussions back on track.

Following a week of little progress, the WGA wrote to members yesterday confirming that AMPTP president Carol Lombardini had asked WGA negotiators to return to the table, adding that the writers union “expects the AMPTP to provide responses to WGA proposals.”

The note added: “Our committee returns to the bargaining table ready to make a fair deal, knowing the unified WGA membership stands behind us and buoyed by the ongoing support of our union allies.”

The AMPTP did not comment on the news, which came after the strike hit its 100th day on Wednesday.

Roadblocks & reservations

Today’s news, which followed last week’s discussion about resuming talks – the first in three months – are being seen as a rare positive sign by some in the industry but the distance between both sides remain great.

Staffing levels of writers rooms and residual payments based on viewing remain major challenges to overcome, with the WGA previously claiming that the AMPTP was “not willing to engage” on either topic.

Regulation of AI is also a key concern, while WGA members’ solidarity with actors striking as part of SAG-AFTRA could mean that a strike will continue until both unions have agreed deals with the US studios, potentially extending the stand-off.

The WGA has been on strike since 2 May, with actor’s union SAG-AFTRA also halting work last month, bringing Hollywood productions to a standstill.

A report in May from ratings agency Moody’s suggested that US studios could face cost increases of up to $600m a year as a result of the writers’ strike, meaning price rises for buyers of US shows as a consequence.