Members of the Writers Guild vote to allow the strike if no agreement is reached by the May 1 deadline

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WGA members voted overwhelmingly to allow the strike. The vote, approved by approximately 98% of eligible voting members, empowers the WGA West Council and WGA East Council to call a strike if a fair deal for a new film and television contract is not reached by May 1, when the current agreement expires.

The two sides are scheduled to resume negotiations at 2 pm Pacific time today.

The vote was: 9020 (97.85%) in favor and 198 (2.15%) opposed. The total number of votes cast was 9,218 (78.79% of eligible WGA members), setting a new record for both participation and percentage of support in the strike vote.

“Our membership has spoken,” the WGA Negotiation Committee told union members. You have expressed your collective strength, solidarity, and demand for meaningful change in overwhelming numbers. Armed with this show of unity and resolve, we will continue to work at the negotiating table to achieve a fair contract for all writers.”

Haggling for a new contract with the Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, which began on March 20, is now expected to be in high gear as the deal deadline approaches.

When polling began last week, the union said: “A vote to authorize a strike, especially by a wide margin, gives the negotiating committee leverage to achieve the best possible deal, entrusting the leadership with the power to declare a strike after the contract has expired, if necessary.”

At the time, the union said: “After several weeks at the negotiating table, [the studios] They fail to provide meaningful responses on fundamental economic issues in any of the WGA’s core business areas – screen, episodic television, and variety comedy. They listened politely to our presentations and made small moves in just a few areas, paired almost entirely with pullbacks designed to offset any gains. In short, the studios have shown no sign that they intend to address the issues our members are determined to solve in these negotiations. “

Back in 2017—the last time a strike was authorized—it was approved by 96.3% of the 6,310 writers who cast ballots, with 67.5% of eligible WGA members signing up. The WGA’s last strike, which began in 2007, lasted 100 days. This authorization vote is approved by 90% of the voters.

Earlier today, the AMPTP said: “Voting to authorize a strike has always been part of the WGA plan, announced before the parties exchanged motions. No one should be surprised by its inevitable ratification. Our aim is, and continues to be, to reach a fair and reasonable agreement. No An agreement can only be reached if the union commits to shifting its focus to serious bargaining by engaging in full discussions of the issues with the companies and seeking reasonable compromises.”

Going into negotiations, the guild’s pattern of demands, a long list of general goals, were divided into three categories. They include:

Compensation and residuals

Retirement plan and health fund

Professional standards and protections in hiring writers