The staff of the Writers Guild of America West called a strike on Tuesday, making good on a threat to mire the writers’ union in its own labor issues ahead of major contract negotiations with studios and streamers.
The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU) announced that it had called a strike in protest of alleged unfair labor practices and would be picketing until further notice. The union maintained that “Guild management has surveilled workers for union activity, terminated union supporters, and engaged in bad faith surface bargaining, showing no intention to come to an agreement on most of WGSU’s core issues.”
In a statement, the WGA West said it “respects the staff union’s right to strike, and will continue to bargain in good faith.” The union added that it has offered “comprehensive” proposals with improvements to wages and working conditions over the course of 19 bargaining sessions with WGSU.
The WGA West is currently in the process of negotiating a first labor contract with its staff union, a group of over 100 workers across legal, communications, residuals and other departments that is affiliated with the Pacific Northwest Staff Union. The union was formed in the spring of 2025, when the WGA West voluntarily recognized its organizing staffers.
The road leading up to recognition was bumpy, with organizers accusing the WGA West of “union-busting,” one of the harshest insults one can level at a bonafide union. Relations went further downhill once negotiations began, at least according to the union.
The most dramatic sign of a disintegrating partnership came on Jan. 29 when 82 percent of participating WGSU staff members voted to authorize a strike. At that point, the labor group accused the WGA West of unfair labor practices and negotiating in bad faith, allegations that the WGA West refuted.
Now, the WGSU strike threatens to overshadow the union’s preparations for its 2026 contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the latest since its own strike against member companies three years earlier.
The union has begun holding meetings for members about its priorities, with its latest gathering scheduled for Tuesday night in New York. During its first member meeting in L.A. on Feb. 11, WGSU picketers stood outside, calling attention to their negotiations issues.
In apparent anticipation of questions about how the strike will affect its film and television negotiations, the WGA West said in its statement on Tuesday that preparations will continue, albeit on a short-staffed basis.
The statement read, “The WGAW Board, WGA Negotiating Committee and executive staff will continue to prepare for the upcoming MBA negotiations, and management staff will carry on the core functions of the Guild.”