The Writers Guild of America’s announcement that it has reached a potentially strike-ending deal with Hollywood studios was met with cheers by entertainment union members, including the union that it shared picket lines with for months, SAG-AFTRA.
“SAG-AFTRA congratulates the WGA on reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP after 146 days of incredible strength, resiliency and solidarity on the picket lines,” the actors guild said in a statement.
A more barbed statement came from Lindsay Dougherty, Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 399, who praised the WGA for their resilience while swiping at the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios in labor talks.
“The militancy of the writers holding the line and hitting the pavement exemplified their unwavering commitment to their core issues,” Dougherty wrote “Their fight has also inspired a renewed solidarity among Hollywood workers that will live long past this bargaining cycle.”
“Solidarity, however, does not come without sacrifice,” she continued. “The antiquated bargaining playbook of the AMPTP caused these negotiations to be intentionally dragged on longer than necessary. Their tactics have left many questioning the function, effectiveness and longevity of this multi-employer bargaining entity.”
On social media, the deal prompted several jokes, including from the parody account Americana on Brand Memes, which posted a picture of white smoke streaming from the Sherman Oaks Galleria, where the negotiations took place at the AMPTP offices.
Kay Cannon, a member of the WGA negotiating committee, commemorated the moment by posting a picture of her with the team, which included chief negotiators Ellen Stutzman and committee co-chairs Chris Keyser and David A. Goodman.
The tentative deal was announced on Sunday after marathon negotiations that lasted for five days, with studio CEOs Bob Iger, Donna Langley, Ted Sarandos and David Zaslav present for the first three days of talks. Negotiations continued through the weekend largely to resolve contract language, with those final touches still continuing as of Sunday evening.
The WGA strike is still officially continuing until the guild authorizes members to return to work, but picket lines will be suspended. The Writers Guild is still encouraging its members to march in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA members in their picket lines, which began on July 14.
See more social media posts on the WGA deal below:
