The rules that will go into effect if the Writers Guild of America (WGA) decides to go on strike after the contract expires on May 1, 2023, have been issued, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In those rules, the members were advised not to write, pitch, or negotiate for work if the strike is called.
To name a few of the WGA’s strike rules:
- Apart from the obvious directive to stop writing, the WGA strike rules prohibit writers from participating in meetings or conversations regarding new or future projects or writing assignments with any representatives of struck companies, including producers and directors.
- It appears that even fiction podcasts produced by struck companies would be affected by the work stoppage.
- Literary representatives are required to cease all negotiations on behalf of writers who are striking.
- Members must notify companies to either return or delete any “spec” scripts that were previously submitted to those entities.
- Writers are required to participate in picketing as assigned, except in cases where they have an accepted medical exception, personal circumstances, or other employment.
The WGA is presently engaged in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to secure a new contract, and though the Guild has not yet decided to strike, 98% of its members have voted in favor of a strike if an agreement is not reached by the contract’s May 1, 2023 expiration date, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Additionally, the WGA has outlined guidelines for individuals who hold multiple roles in the industry such as showrunners or other “hyphenates”. Members who are also producers, performers, or directors will be permitted to continue their work, but only if they do not provide any writing services during the strike, according to AOL.
“The Guild strongly believes that no member should cross a WGA picket line or enter the premises of a struck company for any purpose,” the Guild stated via AOL. “Under applicable law, however, the Guild may not discipline a hyphenate for performing purely non-writing services.”
As reported by AOL, the guild provided additional information in a separate FAQ, revealing that during the 2007-08 strike, some showrunners went beyond the strike rules and refused to perform any services for struck companies during the strike. The guild also suggested that hyphenates who are considering working should seek advice from the guild’s staff and follow a simple rule: “When in doubt, don’t.”
According to AV Club, to deter aspiring writers from crossing the picket line, the WGA has specified that non-members who engage in screenwriting work during the strike will be prohibited from joining the guild in the future.
“It is long past time for the studios, streamers, and other employers in the entertainment industry to remove roadblocks to fair and equitable wages and working conditions,” read SAG-AFTRA’s statement via The Hollywood Reporter. “And to agree to terms that reflect the unique worth and contribution of creative talent and workers, without whom the industry would not exist.”
The DGA also showed support in a statement via The Hollywood Reporter, “All the creative talent, artisans, craftspeople, and workers who make the films and television shows that drive our industry deserve to earn a stable living and share in the success we build together.”
Ellen Stutzman, the chief negotiator of the WGA, stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter prior to negotiations that the Guild would enter the negotiations with the goal of reaching a deal that addresses writer issues and that the union was willing to take action when necessary. The AMPTP responded to the possibility of a strike by stating that a deal would only be possible if the Guild is committed to engaging in full discussions of the issues with the companies and searching for reasonable compromises.