With its staff union still on strike, the Writers Guild of America West threatens to cancel its award ceremony
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- Writers Guild of America West may cancel March 8 awards ceremony as staff union strikes for second week, demanding higher pay and protections against artificial intelligence.
- Management set a Friday deadline for staff union to accept a final offer, warning cancellation would require refunding sponsorship sales and ticket revenue.
- The awards show typically serves as predictor for Oscar contenders, and cancellation could intensify labor disputes ahead of March contract negotiations with studios.
The Writers Guild of America West is warning that it may cancel its award show, as its own staff union enters a second week on strike.
According to a release from the Writers Guild Staff Union, the Writers Guild of America West’s management said they would not bargain any further. The union alleges management gave them a Friday deadline to accept their latest offer. If they do not accept, the upcoming Writers Guild Awards would be canceled.
WGA West said in a statement that as a labor union, they “would not ask our guests to cross a picket line to attend the awards show.”
“While the WGAW staff have a right to strike, our exceptional nominees and honorees deserve an uncomplicated celebration of their achievements,” wrote WGA. “In the event of a cancellation, sponsorship sales and tickets would be refunded, and we will plan a later celebration for 2026 honorees and nominees.”
The award show, meant to honor Hollywood’s writers, is set to take place on March 8 in Los Angeles. It will be hosted by comedian Atsuko Okatsuka. Some of the ceremony’s nominees include Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Zach Kregger’s “Weapons” for original screenplay and shows like “Severance” and “Pluribus” for drama series. The Writers Guild of America East holds a separate but simultaneous ceremony in New York, honoring most of the same nominees. As they are separate unions, the award show cancellation threat only applies to the L.A-based ceremony.
Just a month before the Writers Guild sits down with major film and TV studios, its own staff union is striking right outside their offices, citing unfair labor practices.
In the midst of award season, the Writers Guild Awards are generally considered a predictor for which films might be Academy Award contenders. If the ceremony is canceled, it could intensify the battle between WGA and its internal union, and potentially redefine this year’s award season.
The work stoppage was called on February 17, after the staff union alleged that management had no intention to reach an agreement on the pending contract. Among its accusations, the labor organization also alleged that guild management has “surveilled workers for union activity, terminated union supporters, and engaged in bad faith surface bargaining.”
WGA previously said it “respects the staff union’s right to strike, and will continue to bargain in good faith,” but said the union’s “allegations of unfair labor practices are without merit.”
In January, the union first authorized a strike, with 82% of its members in favor. The staff union, made up of over 100 workers across legal, communications, residuals and other departments, was formed last spring and contract negotiations began in September. The bargaining has focused on concerns about the growth and use of artificial intelligence, pay raises and “basic protections” like grievance procedures.
Roughly two years after one of Hollywood’s biggest strikes, its unions are once again sitting down for negotiations with major studios. SAG-AFTRA is up first, starting bargaining Monday.
The national Writers Guild made headlines in 2023 for the second-longest strike in the union’s history. At the time, film and TV writers clashed with major studios over compensation, AI protections and other protections. WGA West staffers also played a key role in the strike as they, too, joined the picket lines.
A contract was settled after a 148-day work stoppage. The three-year agreement is set to expire on May 1. The current strike continues as the WGA prepares to sit down with major movie studios and streaming companies for new contract negotiations in mid-March. SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, began its negotiations earlier this month.
“Make no mistake: this is an attempt by WGAW management to drive a wedge between WGSU and WGA membership when we should be building unity ahead of MBA [Minimum Basic Agreement] negotiations with the AMPTP [Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers],” wrote the staff union. “We urge Guild management to end this strike now.”
The WGA’s staff union continues to picket outside of its Fairfax offices. On Tuesday, dozens of writers joined them for a “WGA Day of Solidarity.”
