US, writers’ unions and Hollywood studios reach provisional agreement

Los Angeles (California, US), Apr. 6 (LaPresse) – The writers’ union and Hollywood studios have surprisingly reached a four-year provisional agreement after about three weeks of negotiations. The Writers Guild of America West stated on the social network X that its negotiating committee unanimously approved a provisional agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios. The alliance confirmed the agreement in a separate statement on its website. “We look forward to building on this progress as we continue to work toward agreements that support the long-term stability of the industry,” the alliance statement reads. The precise terms of the agreement were not immediately disclosed, but it is expected to include several writers’ priorities, such as better health plans and greater protections against artificial intelligence. The union stated on X that the agreement protects writers’ health plans, is based on the gains achieved in 2023, and “helps address the challenges of unpaid work.” The contract agreement, lasting one year longer than the typical three-year contract, must be approved by the board of directors and union members before it is ratified.