Members of the Writers Guild of America have overwhelmingly approved a new four-year contract with major Hollywood studios and streaming companies, concluding negotiations without a strike and signaling a more stable phase for the entertainment industry.

Union officials said roughly 90% of voting members supported the agreement reached between the Writers Guild of America West, Writers Guild of America East, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The deal follows a relatively brief negotiation period that began in March and produced a tentative agreement by early April, a timeline that stands in contrast to the prolonged labor disputes in 2023 that led to industry-wide shutdowns.

Union leadership highlighted improvements to health coverage as a central achievement of the contract, citing rising healthcare costs and the need to stabilize the guild’s health fund. The agreement also includes increases in minimum compensation, particularly for writers in comedy and variety programming, along with enhanced residual payments tied to the reuse and distribution of content.

Representatives for the studios said the agreement reflects a cooperative approach aimed at maintaining long-term stability within the industry while addressing key concerns raised by writers.

With the writers’ contract finalized, attention is now shifting to ongoing labor negotiations involving actors and directors. SAG-AFTRA continues to negotiate its next contract with studios, with talks expected to resume after a short break. Meanwhile, the Directors Guild of America is scheduled to begin its own negotiations in May.

Industry observers are watching closely to see whether the relatively smooth resolution with writers will carry over into other labor discussions, as studios seek to avoid another round of disruptions across film and television production.