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Writers Ratify Deal, Add $321M Health Fund, 10% Wage Hike

4/25/2026

Summary

Writers Guild Ratifies

Writers Guild of America ratified a contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on April 24, 2026, with 90.38% (4,282) voting in favor.
The deal adds $321 million to the writers’ health fund (including $280 million), lifts minimum wages 10.5% and raises streaming bonuses to 75% of the residual.
AI safeguards stay unchanged, no payment required for script training, while 116-member Writers Guild Support Union continues strike seeking mediation.

Summary

Writers Guild Tightens

The union broadened its “second-step” payment to deter employers from demanding free work.
Licensing deals now require studios to inform the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and allow bargaining when using writers’ work for AI training.
The Committee of Black Writers emailed on April 15 urging a “no” vote because health-plan changes would hurt writers.
The campaign restricts rewrite or delivery requests to the writer named on the contract.

History

Historical Context

The Writers Guild of America strike began November 5, 2007, when roughly 12,000 writers walked out for 100 days to secure DVD and new-media residuals. The deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers granted the guild jurisdiction over digital content and established the streaming-residual formula that underpins later agreements, such as the 2026 contract, which builds on that legacy.

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Writers Guild Ratifies

Writers Guild of America ratified a contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on April 24, 2026, with 90.38% (4,282) voting in favor.
The deal adds $321 million to the writers’ health fund (including $280 million), lifts minimum wages 10.5% and raises streaming bonuses to 75% of the residual.
AI safeguards stay unchanged, no payment required for script training, while 116-member Writers Guild Support Union continues strike seeking mediation.

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