The Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted to strike Monday night after talks for a new contract broke down.

The labor union represents thousands of writers for Hollywood movies, TV, radio, and internet shows and have been in negotiations for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), who represent media platforms such as Netflix, Disney, Apple, Amazon, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount and Sony.

“Though our Negotiating Committee began this process intent on making a fair deal, the studios’ responses have been wholly insufficient given the existential crisis writers are facing,” the guild wrote in a statement Monday. “Therefore, earlier today the WGA Negotiating Committee unanimously rejected the AMPTP’s final offer before deadline and recommended to the [Writers Guild of America West] board and [Writers Guild of America East] Council the issuance of a strike order.”

The writers said they felt undervalued by producers and asked  for $429 million per year, with AMPTP allegedly offering around $86 million. The writers also want limits placed on AI use, as an uptick in AI popularity this year has shown how easy it is to write a prompt for storytelling, in several mediums, and have the technology suggest narratives and storylines within minutes.

AMPTP said its offer was “generous,” but the writers have stated the emergence of streaming has led to producers to treat writers similarly to “gig workers,” with decreased pay and decreased writer staffing.

“While company profits have remained high and spending on content has grown, writers are falling behind,” the WGA wrote in a March 14 bulletin. “The companies have used the transition to streaming to cut writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers at all levels.”

The picket lines have begun, with writers marching outside of Netflix and Warner Bros. offices, holding signs that read, “Get in loser, we’re going on strike, and “Don’t you want to know how ‘The Last of Us’ ends?”

“Los Angeles relies on a strong entertainment industry that is the envy of the world while putting Angelenos to work in good, middle class jobs,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. “I encourage all sides to come together around an agreement that protects our signature industry and the families it supports.”

The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG AFTRA) showed support for the WGA, joining them in picketing efforts and holding signs of their own that read “Unions stand together.”

“L.A. is a union town!” SAG AFTRA wrote on an Instagram post showing several members on the picket lines.

The effects of the strike are already being felt in the industry, with the most visible effect coming to late night talk shows, with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Myers not airing new shows Tuesday.

Saturday Night Live also announced it would go dark this week, canceling a show that was scheduled to have their own Pete Davidson host.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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