what is the writer strike about

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike from May 2 to September 27, 2023, over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major Hollywood studios and production companies like Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount, Sony, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and Disney. The strike was caused by the companies assault on writer income and working conditions, which pushed the writers to an existential brink. The writers demanded higher royalties, mandatory staffing of TV writing rooms, safeguards to their jobs from the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and residual payments when a show becomes a hit. The strike affected thousands of people in Hollywood, including actors, recording artists, radio personalities, and other media professionals represented by SAG-AFTRA, who announced in July that they would also go on strike. The strike ended on September 27, 2023, after the unions representing thousands of movie and television writers reached a tentative agreement with entertainment companies. The two sides still need to work out the language of the final contract, which will then need approval from the leadership of the WGA, as well as its 11,500 members.