A glimmer of hope appeared in the ongoing labor dispute between Hollywood’s writers and producers after the AMPTP reached out to the WGA with an offer to resume talks. It was the first time the two sides had been in formal communication since the strike began on May 1st.
However, any optimism was deflated when the two sides emerged from their meeting on Friday without any specific plans to continue their talks, with both parties citing a lack of agreement on terms. A statement from the WGA Negotiating Committee described that there was some openness to discuss the union’s demands to increase TV minimums and for protections against the future use of Artificial Intelligence. However, there was no progress with the studios on issues related to “writers’ rooms” and the current model for residual payments, two fundamental issues for the writers.
The two sides restated their commitment to resolve outstanding issues and return to work, with the AMPTP negotiators saying that they would consult with studio management. On Saturday, the WGA announced an additional demand, that its members receive health benefits for the time lost from the strike.
While these public disagreements are disappointing, the mere resumption of talks can be seen as a positive development, since the only way to a resolution is through active discussions between the parties. All fingers are crossed that the negotiations will also begin between the studios and actors so that all those involved can find a reasonable accommodation to end this detrimental strike.
See also: WGA Introduces New Health Care Demands That Could Prolong Strike (Deadline)
