Negotiations on the next three-year film and TV contract for the Writers Guild of America will resume Wednesday, the union told members.
“The WGA and AMPTP now have a confirmed schedule to negotiate this week, beginning on Wednesday,” the union said in a notice to some 11,500 members who have been on strike for more than four months over Monday’s expired pact. “You may not hear from us in the coming days as we negotiate, but please know that our focus is on getting a fair deal for writers as quickly as possible. We will contact you again if there is anything important to report.”
The guild also encouraged members to show up at picket lines, “for yourselves and fellow writers, SAG-AFTRA, members of other unions and anyone in our community affected by the strikes.”
The Hollywood Reporter has contacted the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios and streamers in these negotiations, for comment.
Official negotiations over a new contract have been at a standstill since August, but the apparent stalemate between the two sides was broken on Thursday when the AMPTP announced that the WGA had reached out to resume talks. The WGA only confirmed that the two sides were trying to schedule a new meeting.
News of the new momentum in the discussions quickly took effect, with a previously scheduled meeting the next day between guild leaders and top showrunners like Kenya Barris and Noah Hawley being canceled as a result of the development. On Monday, Bill Maher — who had only just days earlier announced that he would resume production of his show amid the long-running strike — halted his plans, citing a return to the bargaining table. “Now that both parties have agreed to return to the negotiating table, I will postpone the return Real timefor now, and I hope they can finally get this done,” he tweeted.
More to come.
