The Writers Guild of America told its 11,500 members on Sunday night that it had reached a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, signaling that the union’s historic 146-day strike may soon be at an end.
An email sent out to the union noted “with great pride” that the new three-year contract “is exceptional—with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”
The deal, which comes after five days of hardcore negotiations, was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Its terms were not immediately made public.
In its email, union leadership asked its members “to be patient again—one last time,” noting that there are still several hurdles ahead before the strike can officially be declared over. On Sunday night, the WGA said that its staff was still going through the contract’s final language—making sure “the last ‘i’ is dotted,” the email read.
Next up will be the ratification process, which begins with seals of approval from the WGA’s Negotiating Committee, Board, and Council. Only then can the deal can be sent to the rank-and-file members for a final vote.
The leadership votes are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, the email said. During the last writers’ strike of 2007 and 2008, a deal was finalized on the 96th day on the picket line, but it took four more days to fully ratify.
“To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized by the Guild,” the email warned. “We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing.”
The email largely stuck to a celebratory tone, however.
“What we have won in this contract—most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd—is due to the willingness of this membership,” it read, “to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
