The WGA Writers' Pay Squeeze

After 146 days of striking, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the union representing Hollywood writers, announced that it had reached a tentative agreement to end the negotiation impasse which, coupled with an actors strike, has brought the industry to a standstill.

Five days of negotiations with studios and streaming services have led to a deal which the WGA described as "exceptional - with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership."

Every three years, the WGA negotiates a new Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA), which is a collective bargaining agreement covering the benefits, rights, and protections of its members. One of the key demands in 2023 was to "increase minimum compensation significantly to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and features".

As illustrated by this infographic, the share of writers working for the absolute minimum set by the MBA grew significantly from the 2013-14 season to the 2021-22 season. In total, the share of writers at the minimum level rose from 33 to 49 percent.