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The WGA released its outline of demands ahead of its negotiations with the AMPTP.
It comes after the union asked members to vote on the proposals before talks begin on March 20 and his contract expires on May 1.
The claims were divided into three broad categories: compensation and balance, pension plan and health fund, and professional standards and employment protection for writers.
Most of the topics are expected, including the rise in minimum rates, the issue of mini-chambers, the increase in residuals and the increase in contributions to its pension fund.
However, some of them are slightly unexpected for the industry at large, including the resolution of the AI problem, which has come to the fore with the rise of services such as ChatGPT, as well as the application minimums for late night shows on streaming services.
Writers must vote by March 7.
Remuneration and residuals
– Significant increase in minimum compensation to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and feature films
– Standardized compensation and residual conditions for feature films, whether released theatrically or via streaming
– Fight against the abuse of mini-rooms
– Ensure appropriate remuneration for writing TV series throughout the pre-production, production and post-production process
– Extend scope protections to cover all TV writers
– Apply MBA minimums to comedy variety programs designed for new media
– Increased residuals for undercompensated reuse markets
– Restrict unpaid use of snippets
Pension plan and health fund
– Increase pension plan and health fund contributions
Professional Standards and Employment Protection for Writers
– For feature contracts where compensation falls below a specified threshold, require weekly payment of compensation and a minimum of two milestones
– Strengthen the regulation of options and exclusivity in the employment contracts of television screenwriters
– Regulate the use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies
– Adopt measures to combat discrimination and harassment and promote pay equity
– Revise and expand all lists of referees
It is, in fact, very similar to the WGA’s Pattern of Demands three years ago, which was also defined in the same three areas.
In 2020, the guild wanted to increase minimum pay across the board, expand programs designed for new media subject to MBA minimums, address editorial staff issues and pay inequities, strengthen protections against unpaid work, and improve residues for reuse markets.