WGA, studios spar on a deal

With bargaining delayed due to crisis, two sides disagree on how long to extend the current contract.

The Writers Guild of America, which many in Hollywood believed would strike this year, has been trying to reach an extension of its contract with film and television studios after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person meetings.

Talks between the two groups, which usually involve 100 people or more, were scheduled to begin Monday at the Sherman Oaks offices of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. However, such a large meeting was not possible because of new rules on social distancing intended to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Instead, some exchanges via phone or email have taken place in recent days, said people familiar with the communications who were not authorized to comment.

In an email to members on Tuesday, the union’s leaders said that it could not “effectively negotiate this important three-year agreement in our usual fashion” and that it may not be possible to bargain a new threeyear contract by the May 1 deadline. But members could continue to work under the existing 2017 agreement and the union would not be asking for strike authorization “in the interim,” the email stated.

WGA leaders said they were discussing several options with the companies, including a potential contract extension, but added: “This is not a time for rash decisions or pressured outcomes. Instead we are conferring with public health authorities, financial analysts, other guilds and unions, legislators, benefit fund experts and others to gather information as the situation continues to evolve.”

The WGA, a 10,000-member union, has asked the studios to extend the contract to Sept. 1, giving the sides more time to bargain at a time when production has shut down, people familiar with the matter said.

“Nothing has been worked out as yet,” WGA spokesman Neal Sacharow said. “The WGA is evaluating the situation.”

The producers’ alliance, however, favors an earlier end to a contract extension— by June 30 — to avoid creating further uncertainty in the industry roiled by the coronavirus outbreak. The contract for Hollywood’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, also expires June 30.

“When this coronavirus passes, and work can resume, it’s critical that those who make a living in industry know that there will be no further disruptions of their ability to make a living,” said a person close to the AMPTP not authorized to comment. “A critical component in doing so is having agreements in place with all unions in industry. We call on the WGA to work together to achieve that goal as soon as possible.”

Some in the industry believe the AMPTP also is concerned that postponing the pact several more months would put the union in a stronger position to strike, if parties can’t agree on terms.

Unlike actors, directors and below-the-line crew, many writers can still work during the shutdown.

The producers’ alliance is expected to press the WGA to adopt framework of the deal recently negotiated by the Directors Guild of America, which includes increases in minimum salaries and a nearly 50% increase in residuals for members working on original shows made for subscription video ondemand series.

However, the WGA is looking to improve on terms of the DGA agreement and has issues unique to its members that need to be negotiated.