the screenwriters will go on strike, announces their union

The threat is carried out. Thousands of American television and film screenwriters will go on strike, their union announced on Monday May 1 after the failure of negotiations with the main studios and platforms, which related to an increase in their remuneration.

Failing to reach an agreement, the members of the board of directors of the powerful writers’ union, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) “acting under the authority conferred on them by their members, voted unanimously in favor of calling a strike” which will take effect after midnight (9 a.m. Paris time), the WGA tweeted.

The Board of Directors of the @WGAwest and the Council of the @WGAeastacting upon the authority granted to them by their memberships, have voted unanimously to call a strike, effective 12:01 AM, Tuesday, May 2.

— Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) May 2, 2023

A 100-day conflict in 2007-2008

This social movement will result in the immediate interruption of successful programs, such as late night shows, and major delays for TV series and movies slated for release this year. The studios’ responses to the requests were “totally insufficient, given the existential crisis the screenwriters are facing”estimated the WGA.

Screenwriters are demanding higher pay, minimum guarantees for stable employment and a greater share of the profits generated by the streaming boom. The last major social movement in Hollywood dates back to the scriptwriters’ strike which paralyzed the American audiovisual industry in 2007-2008. A 100-day conflict that had cost the sector two billion dollars.