Hollywood screenwriters reach an agreement with studios, putting an end to a five-month-long strike

The Hollywood writers' strike, which has lasted for almost five months, will come to an end at midnight on Wednesday. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced that union leaders have unanimously decided to lift the restraining order and cease the strike. The union's 11,500 members will then vote on a proposed three-year agreement that includes pay raises and safeguards regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry. However, actors, who joined the strike in July, are still in a separate dispute. The strike, primarily centered around pay and AI use, is estimated to have cost the US economy $5 billion. It has also led to the shutdown of popular shows such as Billions, The Handmaid's Tale, and Stranger Things. While some television programs can now resume production, the actors' union is still on strike and seeking similar improvements in wages, working conditions, benefits, and AI regulations. The WGA's resolution may serve as a model for SAG-AFTRA to negotiate its own deal with Hollywood studios.