WGA Members Vote to Authorize Strike

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike, with 97.85 percent in agreement.

Of the 9,218 votes cast (78.79 percent of eligible WGA members), 9,020 voted to authorize a strike should a new contract fail to be agreed upon. Just 198 voted against.

“These results set a new record for both turnout and the percentage of support in a strike authorization vote,” the WGA said.

“Our membership has spoken. Writers have expressed our collective strength, solidarity, and the demand for meaningful change in overwhelming numbers. Armed with this undeniable demonstration of unity and resolve, we will continue to work at the negotiating table to achieve a fair contract for all writers.”

The WGA demands include increasing minimum compensation significantly to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and features; standardizing compensation and residual terms for features whether released theatrically or on streaming; addressing the abuses of mini-rooms; ensuring appropriate television series writing compensation throughout the entire process of preproduction, production and postproduction; expanding span protections to cover all television writers; applying MBA minimums to comedy-variety programs made for new media; increasing residuals for under-compensated reuse markets; and restricting uncompensated use of excerpts.

A strike could start as early as 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, May 2, after the current contract runs out.