Back to Work?
- K.J. Griffith
- Oct 2, 2023
- 4 min read
This past week has been one for the history books. On September 24, after 146 days, the WGA has come to a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. This is the longest strike in the history of the WGA, beating the previous record by over a month! This is an exciting time for people in the film and television industry, but is it really time to go back to work for everyone? Let's break down what has been in the news for the past week!
What is a Tentative Agreement?
A tentative agreement means that this is a plan agreed upon by both the WGA and AMPTP representatives. Both the negotiations team from WGA and the AMPTP along with studio leadership were involved in creating this agreement that will now be passed on to the unions. This agreement hits many points that the WGA was striking for, including raises, residuals and AI involvement. Of course the WGA demands weren't fully met, but the teams found what they can both consider a good deal for both sides. Click here if you would like to read the official document released by the WGA.
Because this agreement is tentative, however, this does not mean that it's an official agreement that is immediately set into place. Similar to the democratic system, the union members must vote on the agreement to make it official. If the majority of the over 10,000 WGA union members vote yes, the agreement will be ratified and it's back to work for all writers. If not, then we are back to where we started; with neither side getting what they want and Hollywood going back to a full standstill.
Is the WGA Still on Strike Then?
The quick answer is no, but there's a little more to it. The WGA is currently in a weird limbo, to put it nicely. The picket lines have been broken, but they're not permanently back to work just yet! As of now the strike has stopped, but until the agreement is ratified, all union members are allowed to work, understanding that things may change after the union vote. The vote will become an important part of the process as to whether or not writers will go back to the picket lines. WGA members will be voting in the first week of October to ratify this agreement so we will know soon if the WGA will accept the terms. If the members vote to accept the agreement, we should be seeing work for everyone starting again by mid-October.
I'm Not Part of the WGA, am I Going Back to Work?
It really depends on what type of work you are part of. If you are a writer, it is recommended that you still stand with the WGA and wait until the agreement is ratified. If you're a part of production from a crew standpoint (IATSE for example) you either have already been working on indie projects, or are preparing to return to major industry projects. Either way, this means that finally most people will not have to rely on their savings or back up jobs to make ends meet like they did during the summer. For most, this new development is much needed after a long time out of work. However, WGA's tentative agreement does not mean things are fully returning to normal!
Remember: SAG-AFTRA is Still on Strike!
Many projects are still paused at this time due to the SAG AFTRA strike, even though the WGA has started working again. As of now (October 2, 2023) both groups are still in disagreement and a strike is still in effect, however, there is a planned meeting between representatives of both the AMPTP and SAG AFTRA scheduled for the first week of October. This means that most, if not all, major films and television series are halted with production until an agreement is reached additionally with SAG AFTRA. In many ways, people are still waiting to fully go back to the normal work life in the film industry.
Why is This Important to Someone Who is Not in the Film Industry?
Many people I know from home ask me this! It makes sense to believe that even though the strikes are still ongoing, it does not affect other industries. To be honest though, it does! According to motionpictures.org the film industry employs over 2.4 million people in the United States and supports more than 122,000 business! Without the regular income that the film and television industry provides, workers and businesses are at risk for major financial problems.
The WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes have caused major unemployment in a very shaky job economy. This makes it harder for anyone who is trying to find work, such as college graduates. Additionally as a consumer of television and film, there will be issues with seasons and releases of different projects. Already the fall television season has been shot down, which is a huge loss of millions of dollars for networks and the commercial industry. Many major studio films have also been delayed or altogether cancelled, which affects distribution businesses, both big and small, all over the country. With many people finally being able to make ends meet after the 2020 pandemic, this strike could be the final nail in the coffin for many if it continues past the fall.
There are still a lot more steps that the filmmaking community will need to go through before getting back to business. Many hope, however, that it will be before the end of the year. If it does not, we could experience even worse situations like massive layoffs and cancellations. Not that it isn’t yet, but if there are no decisions made, we could be heading towards a dire situation for everyone involved in the film industry. That includes not just major companies like Disney, Netflix, or even AMC, but the the little guys too. It is time for everyone to return to the table to create an agreement everyone can get behind. The WGA tentative agreement is the first step of many.
*For everyone who is reading this on the day of release, please join SAG AFTRA and WGA on the picket lines for a day of solidarity! This will occur on October 2, so please support if you can!
Comments