WGA Members Approve Landmark Four-Year Studio Deal with 90.4% Support, Securing Health Fund Stability

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has officially ratified a landmark four-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), marking a critical milestone in Hollywood’s 2026 labor cycle. The agreement, approved by 90.4% of 4,738 voting members, concludes the first major negotiation phase and paves the way for resumed talks with SAG-AFTRA next week.

In a statement, WGAW President Michele Mulroney highlighted the contract’s significance, stating:

"In the face of industry contraction and runaway healthcare cost inflation, writers were able to secure a contract that returns our Health Fund to a sustainable path and builds on gains from the 2023 strike."

Negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP were notably more productive than in previous years, driven by the urgency to prevent another prolonged strike like the 118-day walkout in 2023. The WGA’s health plan had reported $122 million in losses during 2023 and 2024, a result of rising costs and reduced work stemming from the strike. To address this, the new agreement injects $321 million in new contributions into the health plan, with $280 million coming from studios—the largest employer-side infusion in WGA history.

However, members will face increased costs starting in 2027, including:

• A minimum monthly premium of $75 for single participants.
• Premiums up to $200 for participants with multiple dependents.
• Higher out-of-pocket costs and deductibles.
• A raised earnings threshold from $46,759 to $53,773 in July 2027.

The contract also includes minimum wage increases totaling 10.5% over four years, with a higher first-year increase for Comedy-Variety writers. Additional provisions include:

• Higher residuals for high-budget streaming projects.
• Enhanced bonus structures for top-performing streaming films and TV shows.
• New minimums for "page one" rewrites of pre-existing scripts: $31,500 for low-budget projects and $57,500 for high-budget.

The AMPTP will now resume negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, which were paused in mid-March after five weeks of talks. These discussions are scheduled to continue for two weeks before the Directors Guild of America (DGA) negotiations begin on May 11. SAG-AFTRA’s current contract is set to expire on June 30.