Movement! WGA to Respond to Studio Counterproposals Next Week

The Guild is keeping mum on what exactly those are, though

In the first proper sit-down between the Writers Guild and Hollywood’s studios and streamers — excepting last week’s brief preliminary meeting — since the strike started on May 2, new proposals are on the table.

According to a WGA update to membership Friday evening, the AMPTP has made counterproposals, which the guild plans to respond to next week.

The negotiating session comes on Day 102 of the writers strike, which has now ground past the full duration of the strike of 2007-08. The guild told members that it preferred to stay mum on the play-by-play of the discussions so far, in order to avoid the “subsequent public dissection of the meaning of the moves.” (If you recall, last Friday’s meeting ended with an accusation by the WGA that the AMPTP was leaking to trade outlets — despite asking for a press blackout.)

“That will be our approach, at least for the time being, until there is something of significance to report, or unless management uses the media or industry surrogates to try to influence the narrative,” said the negotiating committee in its email.

The AMPTP declined to comment. Here’s a quick recap of the issues on the table.

Read the WGA’s full email, below:

DEAR MEMBERS,

Your Negotiating Committee received a counterproposal from the AMPTP today. We will evaluate their offer and, after deliberation, go back to them with the WGA’s response next week.

Sometimes more progress can be made in negotiations when they are conducted without a blow-by-blow description of the moves on each side and a subsequent public dissection of the meaning of the moves. That will be our approach, at least for the time being, until there is something of significance to report, or unless management uses the media or industry surrogates to try to influence the narrative.

The Guild always has the right to communicate with our members and will do so when we think there is news you need to know.

In the meantime, please continue to demonstrate your commitment by showing up to the picket lines: for yourselves, your fellow writers, SAG-AFTRA, fellow union members, and all those in our community who are impacted by the strikes.

IN SOLIDARITY,

WGA NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE

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Today in Strike News

• Producers Guild presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line appeared at the Amazon Studios picket today in Culver City, where they reemphasized their support for the strike. (Deadline)

• The Hollywood Professional Association — a nonprofit made up of many postproduction workers along with other industry workers — issued an open letter cautioning about the long-term, and already present, impact the strike has had. “At this point, the long-term impact to what is referred to as the industry supply chain in post production, VFX, and production support is already real and dire. At the conclusion of the current dispute, it is assumed that the writers, actors, and producers will go back to work. However, the real risk for our members is that they may not be able to return at all.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

• This coming Tuesday, Laugh Factory Hollywood will host a benefit headlined by Tiffany Haddish, JB Smoove, and Faizon Love in which all funds raised will be donated to the Entertainment Community Fund. (KTLA5)

• Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, Retta, Adam Scott and none other than L’il Sebastian himself joined numerous other Parks and Rec actors on the picket line today for a reunion outside Amazon Studios. (Rolling Stone)

• After walking his comments back about the strike being “myopic” and “a reductive negotiating tactic,” Stephen Amell has taken his apology tour to the next level, appearing on a picket line in New York today. (Entertainment Weekly)

Additional reporting by Matthew Frank.

Disclosure: Elaine Low is an inactive member of SAG-AFTRA.