The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has officially ratified a new four-year Minimum Basic Agreement with the major studios, approving a deal that introduces significant changes to its health plan while securing new funding and contract gains.
Guild members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement, with 90.38 percent approving the deal. The contract runs from May 2, 2026, through May 1, 2030.
A key component of the agreement is a restructuring of the WGA health plan. For the first time, writers will pay individual premiums, alongside higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. The deal also rolls back aspects of the “extended coverage points” system, which previously helped writers maintain health insurance between jobs.
The changes come as the guild faces ongoing financial pressure, with the health fund reportedly running deficits averaging $50 million annually in recent years due to rising healthcare costs and a slowdown in film and television production.
“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,” said Michele Mulroney.
In exchange for the concessions, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has committed an estimated $321 million to stabilize the health fund over the next four years, including $280 million in new contributions.
The agreement also includes improvements in residuals and wages, along with an increase to the streaming “success bonus,” which rises from 50 percent to 75 percent of a writer’s base residual for high-performing shows.
On artificial intelligence, the deal maintains the status quo established after the 2023 strike, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions but without new commitments on AI training compensation.
The contract preserves current staffing minimums in writers’ rooms, holding the line against studio efforts to bring back pre-greenlight “mini rooms.”
“This deal reflects a collaborative approach that supports both writers and the industry’s long-term stability,” the AMPTP said in a statement.
The WGA agreement is the first major labor deal reached in the current bargaining cycle, as negotiations continue with SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America in the weeks ahead.
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