With the meetings between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) having concluded on February 15th, the WGA is evaluating the latest offer from AMPTP. After a long standoff between the two parties that spanned over five months, the two sides seemed to be getting closer to an agreement, as the WGA’s writers have been on strike since November 5th.
The offer from AMPTP dealt mainly with two points of contention between the two sides: residuals from streaming media and jurisdiction over so-called “new media.” The AMPTP offered to triple the residuals for streaming media within the next three years, a move that was hailed by many within the WGA as a major victory. The offer was also alleged to guarantee jurisdiction for new media writers, a point that the WGA has staunchly held out for throughout the striking process.
In the wake of this offer, the WGA released a statement that they were currently evaluating the offer, both to determine its value and the impact it would have on writers’ rights. The statement also assured that the WGA would continue to keep the public informed as negotiations continued.
The striking writers, however, have also felt the need to make their voices heard, holding protests over the entire span of the stand-off. The protests will continue in Los Angeles and New York on February 19th, with continued appeals to the public to support their struggle.
As the WGA looks further into the offer, both the striking writers and the Hollywood industry wait to hear the results. With both sides of the negotiation eager for a resolution, it is likely that a swift resolution will be reached and the strike will come to an end. Regardless, both sides need to tread carefully as they fight for their rights, as any agreement reached may shape the future of writer’s rights for years to come.
