2023 Writers Guild of America strike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2023 Writers Guild of America strike |
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| Part of 2023 Hollywood labor disputes | |||
Picket line formed by writers on strike in New York City on location of Daredevil: Born Again. The production of Severance was shut down due to the strike.
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| Date | May 2 – September 27, 2023 (4 months and 25 days, or 148 days) | ||
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| Resulted in | Tentative agreement reached on September 24, 2023 | ||
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The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike was when many writers in Hollywood stopped working. It started on May 2, 2023, and ended on September 27, 2023. About 11,500 screenwriters, who are part of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), went on strike. They had disagreements with the big TV and movie companies, called the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
A "strike" happens when workers stop doing their jobs to ask for better pay or working conditions. This strike was one of the longest in Hollywood history.
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Why Did Writers Strike?
Writers had several important reasons for stopping work. They wanted fair pay and better job security.
Fair Pay for Streaming Shows
One big issue was how writers are paid for shows on streaming media services like Netflix or Disney+. Writers get extra payments called "residuals" when their shows are re-aired or streamed. The WGA said that these payments had become much lower. This meant writers were earning less money than they used to, even for popular shows.
Rules for Artificial Intelligence
Writers also wanted rules about artificial intelligence (AI). They were worried that AI, like ChatGPT, might be used to write scripts instead of people. The WGA wanted AI to be a tool to help writers, not to replace them. They wanted to make sure human creativity was still valued.
Job Security and Staffing
Another concern was "mandatory staffing." Writers wanted contracts to say that every show must have a certain number of writers. They also wanted to be employed for a minimum amount of time. This would help ensure writers had steady jobs and enough support on projects.
Health Care and Pensions
The WGA also wanted to make sure every writer on a team received their own health care and pension funds. These are important benefits that help workers stay healthy and plan for retirement.
What Was the Impact?
The strike stopped many TV shows and movies from being made. Studios had to close down or reduce their staff. This affected many people working in the entertainment industry around the world. It was the longest break in American film and TV production since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
How Did the Strike End?
Leaders like Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass and Governor of California Gavin Newsom offered to help. They wanted to "mediate," which means helping both sides talk and find a solution.
From September 20 to 24, the WGA and the big studio leaders had important talks. They finally reached a "tentative agreement." This means they agreed on a plan, but it still needed to be approved. After a vote, the WGA leaders decided to end the strike on September 27, 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Huelga del Sindicato de Guionistas de Estados Unidos de 2023 para niños
