Writers Guild Members Start Casting Ballots For Strike Approval

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America today will begin voting on whether to authorize a strike against major studios.

The vote, which continues through next Monday, would give union leaders an edge in ongoing contract negotiations. If the authorization is approved, it doesn't mean a strike is inevitable, but the union could call a strike if it wanted to.

Contract renewal talks between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the major studios, and the WGA began just three weeks ago. The sides are renegotiating a multi-year contract that expires May 1.

The WGA quickly grew impatient with the progress made at the negotiating table: The union is demanding increases in minimum pay for writers, residual streaming pay, and contributions to health and pension plans.

“They have listened politely to our presentations and made small moves in only a few areas, almost entirely coupled with rollbacks designed to offset any gains. In short, the studios have shown no sign that they intend to address the problems our members are determined to fix in this negotiation," the union wrote in a statement.

A recent report published by the WGA showed the median weekly pay for writer-producers fell 23 percent over the last decade, when adjusted for inflation. Unions representing production workers have said the economics of streaming, such as the fact that series have fewer episodes, have led to decreases in pay, even as production budgets and studio profits have increased.

"The AMPTP companies approach this negotiation and the ones to follow with the long-term health and stability of the industry as our priority. We are all partners in charting the future of our business together and fully committed to reaching a mutually beneficial deal with each of our bargaining partners. The goal is to keep production active so that all of us can continue working and continue to deliver to consumers the best entertainment product available in the world," the studio group wrote in a statement.

Strike authorization votes are a common tactic in contract negotiations.

Two years ago, one of Hollywood's largest unions, IATSE, voted to authorize a strike amid tough contract negotiations with the AMPTP. But that came only after talks had gone on for months. After the vote, the sides quickly ironed out their differences and came to an agreement.

That vote, which was approved by 98 percent of voting members, was a dramatic showing of the frustration Hollywood workers feel about wealth inequality in the entertainment industry, feelings that were amplified during the pandemic.

The WGA has shown in the past that it's very willing to pull the trigger on a strike: Its 2007-08 work stoppage lasted over three months, shutting down production and impacting the Los Angeles economy.

Various estimates from different organizations estimated that the 100- day strike cost the local economy between $2 billion and $3 billion.

City News Service contributed to this report.