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“We
look forward to building on this progress as we continue working
toward agreements that support long-term industry stability,”
read the alliance statement.
The precise terms of the deals were not immediately announced,
but it is expected to include several writers’ priorities such
as better health care plans and more protections against
artificial intelligence. The union said on X that the deal
protects the writers’ health plan builds on gains from 2023 and
“helps address free work challenges.”
The contract agreement, a year longer than a typical three-year
deal, must be approved by the guild’s board and members before
it is ratified.
The surprise agreement came within weeks of negotiation — a
stark contrast to the contentious contract negotiation three
years ago when Hollywood writers went on a historic strike that
partially brought the industry to a standstill.
The screenwriters voted almost unanimously to approve that
agreement, which provided them with more compensation, length of
employment and control of artificial intelligence. The current
contract was set to expire in May.
The studios were also working on new deals with union leaders
representing actors and directors, whose contracts are set to
expire at the end of June. Sean Astin, president of the SAG-AFTRA,
said in a February interview with The Associated Press that he
has seen signs that the studios want “to work as partners
again.” Hollywood actors also walked out of their jobs for
months in 2023 demanding for a better contract.
The writers' tentative deal with studios came as the Writers
Guild of America West faces an ongoing strike by its own staff
union that started in February. More than 100 people working in
legal, events and residuals departments went on strike over
allegations of unfair labor practice, according to the Los
Angeles Times.
It is not clear how, or whether, the weekslong strike would have
an impact on the tentative deal with the studios. The union
announced last month it canceled its annual award ceremony
because of the staff union strike.
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