The Writers Guild of America Strike Continues with Little Progress Made

The Writers Guild of America met again with negotiators from the major studios on Friday afternoon, but the sides appeared to make little progress toward ending the 109-day strike.

Far Apart on Major Issues

The guild has held talks each of the last four days with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, but the two sides remain far apart on the major issues, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

Management Frustration and Resistance

Top executives from the studios, including several CEOs, held a conference call earlier in the day to discuss next steps. The executives shared their frustration over the lack of progress, but it does not appear that the AMPTP intends to walk away from the table, according to the sources.

Resistance from Management

At the same time, the management side has resisted making further concessions, saying they do not want to negotiate against themselves.

Updates and Trust

The WGA has not updated its membership about the negotiations since last week. Guild leaders have admonished members not to trust studio leaks about the talks.

Renewed Bargaining and Progress

The AMPTP renewed bargaining with the WGA last Friday, delivering a package of proposals on issues like TV staff size, streaming data transparency, and artificial intelligence.

Regulating Artificial Intelligence

The WGA gave its response to the studios on Tuesday. The negotiators spent much of Wednesday and Thursday talking about how to regulate AI, and were believed to be making some progress on that issue, though obstacles remained.

Impact on Industry and Criticisms

The WGA strike began on May 2, shuttering most scripted TV and film production in the U.S. and upending the fall broadcast schedules. The SAG-AFTRA strike, which began on July 14, has shut down film production both in the U.S. and overseas, and led to a number of postponements on the film calendar.

Criticizing Corporate Giants

On Thursday, the WGA issued a report criticizing Netflix, Amazon, and Disney for consolidating power over the entertainment industry. The report accused the corporate giants of engaging in a series of abusive business practices, including suppressing wages, predatory pricing, and reducing the output of content.

Strong Turnout and Weather Impact

Since May 2, the WGA has maintained a strong turnout on picket lines in Los Angeles and New York. Picket activity has been canceled for Monday due to the approach of Hurricane Hilary on the West Coast.

Jennifer Maas, Cynthia Littleton, and Matt Donnelly contributed to this story.