Over 92% of the scribes in the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have voted to accept the end strike resolution worked out between their leadership and attorneys for the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMTP).
Members are now free to go back to work immediately.
“The strike is over,” Patric Verrone, WGA prexy stated. “Our membership has voted. Writers can go back to work.”
“This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry,” Leslie Moonves, MGM’s Harry Sloan, NBC Universal’s Jeff Zucker, News Corp.’s Peter Chernin, Paramount Pictures’ Brad Grey, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Michael Lynton, Walt Disney Co.’s Robert Iger and Warner Bros.’ Barry Meyer all said in a written press statement.
The studio and network heads went on to say that, “The strike has been extraordinarily difficult for all of us, but the hardest hit of all have been the many thousands of businesses, workers and families that are economically dependent on our industry. We hope now to focus our collective efforts on what this industry does best — writers, directors, actors, production crews, and entertainment companies working together to deliver great content to our worldwide audiences.”
DGA prexy Michael Apted issued a brief statement following the WGA’s strike vote tally announcement.
“The DGA applauds the successful conclusion of the AMPTP/WGA negotiations and the end to the strike,” Apted said. “The last three months have been painful ones for tens of thousands of working people in and around the entertainment industry, and like everyone else, our members are now eager to get back to work.”
That’s two down and one to go. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has a contract with the AMPTP that is due to expire on June 30. Informal talks between the two parties are currently going on behind a press blackout.
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