The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has announced the ratification of a 2023 minimum basic agreement with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP), effective September 25, 2023 through May 1, 2026. The Guild revealed that 99% of members voted ‘yes’.
Key gains of the new contract include a 5% increase in most MBA minimums, increased health & pension contributions, improved terms for employment and VOD payouts, pay/fee increases and new provisions for writers on episodic projects.
One of the most discussed aspects of the strike-fueled negotiations was protecting writers from the encroachment of artificial intelligence. Per the WGA’s summary of the 2023 MBA, newly established regulations include:
- AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.
- A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.
- The Company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.
- The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.
In a missive from WGAW President Meredith Stiehm and WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, the organization reasserted its mutual support with SAG-AFTRA, which is still engaged in active picketing. Read the full message below:
Dear Members,
We are pleased to announce that 99% of WGA members have voted in favor of ratifying the 2023 MBA. Of the 8,525 valid votes cast there were 8,435 “yes” votes and 90 “no” votes (1%). The term of the agreement is from September 25, 2023 through May 1, 2026.
See the summary of the 2023 MBA for more information on what we gained.
We would not have been able to achieve this industry-changing contract without WGA Chief Negotiator Ellen Stutzman, Negotiating Committee Cochairs Chris Keyser and David Goodman, the entire WGA Negotiating Committee, strike captains, lot coordinators, and the staff that supported every part of the negotiation and strike action.
As our negotiations come to an end, we won’t forget our SAG-AFTRA siblings who have supported writers every step of the way. We call upon the AMPTP to negotiate a deal that addresses the needs of performers and, until they do, we ask WGA members who can to continue to show up on their picket lines in solidarity.
In solidarity,
Meredith Stiehm, WGAW President
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, WGAE President
