The members of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) have ratified a new three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The WGA membership overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratification. Of the 3,647 valid votes cast there were 3,617 “yes” votes (99.2% percent) and 30 “no” votes (.8% percent). There were 9,441 eligible voters. The term of the agreement is from May 2, 2017 through May 1, 2020.
“Our success in these negotiations was due to a highly engaged and dedicated membership, working in tandem with a tireless and informed Negotiating Committee and an extraordinary Guild staff. We achieved new and significant gains that will help today’s writers even as they benefit the next generation,” said WGAE President Michael Winship and WGAW President Howard A. Rodman. “Our thanks go out to all of those who contributed to the process and to the thousands of our fellow writers who participated in the strike authorization and ratification votes.”
Gains achieved in the new contract include safeguarding the solvency of the Guild’s Health Plan, a new formula for increasing compensation for writers on short seasons, expansion of the limitations on options and exclusivity, increased residuals for made-for-pay TV programs and programs made for high budget subscription video on demand and, for the first time ever in a WGA contract, a provision guaranteeing parental leave.
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) are labor unions representing writers in motion pictures, television, cable, new media, and broadcast news. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars, and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit www.wgaeast.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, West, visit www.wga.org.
