Background
The Writers Guild of America (WGA)
Founded in 1933 as the Screen Writers’ Guild, the WGA is a labor union representing writers in motion pictures, broadcast, cable, and new media industries. The WGA's mission is to promote and protect the professional and economic interests of its members. Similar to SAG-AFTRA, the WGA supports emerging writers through mentorship programs, educational resources, and networking opportunities. Joining the WGA involves initiation fees and annual dues, offering access to valuable resources, legal support, and the collective bargaining power of the union.
Both organizations play crucial roles in advocating for the rights and interests of their members, ensuring fair compensation, and creating a supportive environment for emerging talent in the entertainment industry. They continuously fight to provide fair working conditions, healthcare, and other benefits as previously mentioned to each of their members, ensuring that the rights of the working artist are secured so long as these unions stand.
SAG-AFTRA
With a membership of 160,000 across the United States, the Screen Actors Guild along with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) serves as a labor union representing performers in the entertainment industry, including actors, announcers, broadcasters, and recording artists. The union's mission is to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable compensation and working conditions. Founded in 1933 as a result of actor dissatisfaction with the Academy, SAG-AFTRA has since played a crucial role in protecting the professional interests of its diverse membership. The union provides support for emerging actors through resources, agents, managers, workshops, and educational programs, aiming to help new talent understand their rights, navigate the industry, and develop necessary skills. Membership involves initiation fees and annual dues, considered an investment in one's career for access to benefits and opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Founded in 1933 as the Screen Writers’ Guild, the WGA is a labor union representing writers in motion pictures, broadcast, cable, and new media industries. The WGA's mission is to promote and protect the professional and economic interests of its members. Similar to SAG-AFTRA, the WGA supports emerging writers through mentorship programs, educational resources, and networking opportunities. Joining the WGA involves initiation fees and annual dues, offering access to valuable resources, legal support, and the collective bargaining power of the union.
Both organizations play crucial roles in advocating for the rights and interests of their members, ensuring fair compensation, and creating a supportive environment for emerging talent in the entertainment industry. They continuously fight to provide fair working conditions, healthcare, and other benefits as previously mentioned to each of their members, ensuring that the rights of the working artist are secured so long as these unions stand.
SAG-AFTRA
With a membership of 160,000 across the United States, the Screen Actors Guild along with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) serves as a labor union representing performers in the entertainment industry, including actors, announcers, broadcasters, and recording artists. The union's mission is to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable compensation and working conditions. Founded in 1933 as a result of actor dissatisfaction with the Academy, SAG-AFTRA has since played a crucial role in protecting the professional interests of its diverse membership. The union provides support for emerging actors through resources, agents, managers, workshops, and educational programs, aiming to help new talent understand their rights, navigate the industry, and develop necessary skills. Membership involves initiation fees and annual dues, considered an investment in one's career for access to benefits and opportunities in the entertainment industry.
The Strike
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated a strike on May 2, lasting for four months, demanding higher pay, a stable pay structure, fairer deals and contracts, and provisions regarding artificial intelligence. The strike affected over 11,000 film, television, news, radio, and online writers. The major demands were for higher compensation, fairer deals and contracts, stability in pay structures regarding residuals from streaming platforms, and provisions regarding artificial intelligence (A.I). The rise of streaming services like Netflix changed the business model, making it harder for writers to find consistent, well-paying work.
The strike had significant effects on Hollywood, with about 160,000 individuals in the entertainment industry, including actors and other professionals represented by SAG-AFTRA, announcing their own strike in July. Despite the WGA reaching a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Sept. 24, an official contract was not yet in place, and the writers strike remained ongoing.
On Oct. 9, 2023, the WGA strike officially reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP, securing an increase in pay for the writers, improved health and pension plans, better residuals from streaming services, among other benefits as well. To see the full breakdown you can visit the WGA website and see the wins and compromises contrived from the unions arbitrations.
While the WGA was able to secure a fair deal with the AMPTP, members of SAG-AFTRA remained on the picket lines for another month waiting on their fair deal to arrive. This wait eventually ended though, as on November 9, 2023, SAG-AFTRA came into agreement with the AMPTP and both unions were able to fully resume work and restore the industry back to the great place it once was.
The strike's impact on TV shows and movies included delayed productions, halted filming, and postponements. Major shows and films experienced disruptions, and even late-night talk shows, reliant on writers, went dark. The strike raised awareness of the challenges writers faced in the evolving entertainment landscape, particularly with the dominance of streaming services and changes in compensation models. Both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA aimed to secure fair deals that addressed these challenges and ensured the well-being of their members.
A goal set, and a goal accomplished.
The strike had significant effects on Hollywood, with about 160,000 individuals in the entertainment industry, including actors and other professionals represented by SAG-AFTRA, announcing their own strike in July. Despite the WGA reaching a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on Sept. 24, an official contract was not yet in place, and the writers strike remained ongoing.
On Oct. 9, 2023, the WGA strike officially reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP, securing an increase in pay for the writers, improved health and pension plans, better residuals from streaming services, among other benefits as well. To see the full breakdown you can visit the WGA website and see the wins and compromises contrived from the unions arbitrations.
While the WGA was able to secure a fair deal with the AMPTP, members of SAG-AFTRA remained on the picket lines for another month waiting on their fair deal to arrive. This wait eventually ended though, as on November 9, 2023, SAG-AFTRA came into agreement with the AMPTP and both unions were able to fully resume work and restore the industry back to the great place it once was.
The strike's impact on TV shows and movies included delayed productions, halted filming, and postponements. Major shows and films experienced disruptions, and even late-night talk shows, reliant on writers, went dark. The strike raised awareness of the challenges writers faced in the evolving entertainment landscape, particularly with the dominance of streaming services and changes in compensation models. Both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA aimed to secure fair deals that addressed these challenges and ensured the well-being of their members.
A goal set, and a goal accomplished.