Writers Guild to Return to Bargaining Table

The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced Monday that they will go back to the bargaining table April 17 for one more try at reaching an agreement on a new contract before the current one expires May 2. Talks broke off March 1.

Failing to reach a new agreement, the guild, representing some 11,000 TV and movie writers, could vote to strike. Talks have yet to be scheduled between the actors, whose current contract expires July 1, and the movie studios and TV networks.

Back-to-back strikes by the writers and actors would virtually shut down production in Hollywood and deal a potentially devastating blow to Southern California’s economy.