As we mentioned yesterday, the writers' strike may be coming to an end. Michael Eisner leaked that we'd be hearing news of it this weekend, and the former Disney CEO was right. Today Variety reports that "the WGA has finalized its tentative agreement with the majors and will present details of the pact to members today in meetings in Los Angeles and New York."
The New York meeting is taking place at the Crowne Plaza and will gauge approval, deciding whether it's acceptable for the Guild's 10,500 striking writers. Following that, tomorrow a meeting between the WGA West board of directors and the WGA East Council is scheduled to formally endorse the contract. Meaning writers could be picking up pen and paper as early as Monday.
Leaders of the WGA stressed the gains of the agreement, saying it "protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery. It creates formulas for revenue-based residuals in new media, provides access to deals and financial data to help us evaluate and enforce those formulas, and establishes the principle that, ‘When they get paid, we get paid.’“
Not everyone is on board yet about the agreement (outlined here), however, and Variety reports that "the lukewarm responses from some vocal members have raised the possibility of the guild staying on strike during the 10-day ratification process." Last night we received an email from the WGA saying their next “big picket” is scheduled for this coming Wednesday in front of Viacom. Let's all hope it turns into a celebration, because what this means for viewers is a salvageable TV season.
Photo via 4Durt's Flickr.
