In what would be the WGA’s greatest achievement in its yearlong standoff with major agencies, the scribes union appears to be close to a deal with UTA tonight.
We heard that at a captains’ meeting Tuesday night, WGA West President David Goodman revealed to members that the union was finalizing a deal with the “lead agency.” Official details of the possible breakthrough agreement could come as soon as Wednesday, according to sources.
The agency in question was not identified. However, multiple sources point to UTA as the likely new WGA signatory.
Attendees at the virtual business meeting were also told that another major agency pact was also brewing, as we have learned. No further details were provided in this regard either.
Related story
WGA says writers are receiving “tangible results” from rule requiring franchise agencies to deliver clients’ financial documents
As COVID-19 keeps most of the industry without writers, this new deal follows the WGA reaching an agreement for a new three-year general contract with AMPTP on July 1.
At the same time, UTA, CAA, and WME have been embroiled in contentious litigation with the WGA over multiple guild efforts to end packaging deals and affiliate production in the industry. It is unclear how a pending settlement would affect that and whether UTA’s signing with the WGA would resolve its ongoing federal lawsuit with the union.
In April 2019, the WGA instructed its members to fire their agents if their organizations did not sign the agency’s new code of conduct. As thousands of scribes cut ties to agents that many of them had for years, the code in question basically disconnected the lucrative practice of packaging. After a successful re-election campaign late last year, Goodman was further emboldened in her stance against packaging, both in and out of court.
UTA has arguably been the most active in communicating with the WGA leadership among large agencies. Co-Chair Jay Sures He overturned Goodman from WGA West, a former UTA client, in May 2019, trying to restart the stalled negotiations between the guild and the Talent Agents Association.
UTA has been severely affected by the shutdown of pandemic-related coronavirus production in mid-March that emptied sets across the city. The agency in March instituted pay cuts; In May, he left dozens of employees, mostly assistants, as the belts tightened even further.
Although the first of the Big 4 to participate with the WGA, UTA is not the only agency by far. Gersh, Paradigm and APA have already signed agreements with the WGA, as have 70 other smaller agencies.
