Hollywood writers have officially been on the picket line for 100 days — marking the same point in which the last walkout by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) ended in 2008.
WGA strike captains announced on Twitter they expected big turnouts at picket locations in the Los Angeles area and outside Netflix’s offices in Manhattan on Aug. 9, which is day 100.
In a statement shared to Twitter/X, Chris Keyser and David A. Goodman, co-chairs of the WGA’s negotiating committee, called the critical mark a “milestone of shame” for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios and streamers in contract talks.
“The refusal to take writers’ reasonable proposals seriously has caused the WGA strike to last 100 days and counting; it serves only as a milestone of shame for the AMPTP,” the WGA reps shared. “They and their member studios are wholly responsible for the over three-month shutdown of the industry and the pain it has caused workers and all others whose livelihoods depends on this business.”
Keyser and Goodman added, “The cost of settling the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes is far less than the damage their intractability has caused. Ultimately, the studios have no choice but to make a fair deal. Until then, we remain resolved and united.”
Related: Black Writers Talk WGA Strike’s ‘Trickle-Down’ Effect
The 100-day mark comes after the WGA and the AMPTP made another attempt to get back to the negotiating table. Despite their efforts, however, the recent meeting between WGA representatives and AMPTP boss Carol Lombardini broke down.
On Aug. 4, the WGA revealed that “no agreement” was reached on restarting negotiations but expressed its willingness “to engage with the companies and resume negotiations in good faith to make a fair deal for all writers.”
Meanwhile, the AMPTP expressed the potential to increase certain writer-specific TV minimums and discuss topics like artificial intelligence. Still, disagreements persist. The AMPTP’s approach of using the recent directors guild deal as a framework for negotiations has garnered criticism from writers. Key sticking points include writers’ room staffing sizes and the contentious issue of streaming residuals.
The WGA has introduced additional matters to the negotiations. These include pressing for a health care benefit extension and increased plan funding.
The writers strike began on May 2. Meanwhile, actors represented by SAG-AFTRA began walking the picket line on July 14.
