The Writers Guild of America Negotiating Committee has announced that the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has requested a meeting with negotiators on Friday. In response to this news, the WGA stated that they expect the AMPTP to provide responses to their proposals. The WGA committee is prepared to negotiate in good faith, supported by the unified membership of the WGA and backed by their union allies.
This development comes as the WGA strike reached its 100th day yesterday. If the talks take place on Friday, it will be exactly one week after their last meeting, during which little progress was made. The WGA made it clear after that meeting that they are not willing to settle for an incremental deal to end the strike.
In a statement, the AMPTP expressed its continued commitment to reaching a fair and equitable agreement with both unions and getting the industry back to work.
Food service workers at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas announced plans to protest stagnant wages on the Las Vegas strip on Thursday (Aug. 10), after almost a year without a contract from the hospitality company Levy Restaurants.
Two weeks ago, the roughly 200 workers—represented by the Culinary Workers Union of Nevada—overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if a new contract is not reached in the near future.
“Workers are negotiating for fair wage increases, health care and pension benefit protections, seniority, opportunity to work in other venues, faster resolution to grievances, and so that one job is enough to provide for their families,” the Culinary Union, which represents 60,000 workers in Nevada, wrote in a press release announcing the labor action.
The employees are part of the extensive hospitality staff at the T-Mobile arena, a new stadium that was opened in 2016 as a home for the Vegas Golden Knights, Nevada’s professional hockey team. It is co-owned by hotel conglomerate MGM Resorts International and sports entertainment giant Anschutz Entertainment Group.
A press representative for Levy Restaurants was not immediately available for comment. In a statement provided to the Associated Press, the hospitality company said it was committed to reaching an equitable contract.
“We remain committed to working diligently with the Union to reach a fair agreement that shows our team members how much we value them,” the statement said, “and we look forward to returning to the bargaining table soon.”
The union confirmed that workers were taking steps to prepare for a strike, including making picket signs and signing up for strike benefits. As of yet, no date for a strike has been set, as negotiations with Levy are ongoing.
Screenwriters announce new negotiations with Hollywood studios
As workers in Las Vegas prepare for the possibility of a strike, one of the most visible labor campaigns in recent memory enters a new phase. The Writers Guild of America has announced new negotiations with Hollywood studios beginning on Friday (Aug. 11), after 101 days of striking. The union informed its members that it is resuming talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in a union-wide email.
“We expect the AMPTP to provide responses to WGA proposals,” the WGA wrote. Our committee returns to the bargaining table ready to make a fair deal, knowing the unified WGA membership stands behind us and is buoyed by the ongoing support of our union allies. We will get back to you.”
The decision to return to the bargaining table comes amid a major work stoppage in the entertainment industry, with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) going on strike on July 14. The simultaneous strikes have brought virtually all scripted production in the US to a stop.