Writers Strike

The 2007-2008 Writers Strike was a strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), it began on November 5th, 2007, and ended February 12th, 2008. The strike disrupted production of TV shows & movies in Hollywood.

Every three years, the WGA has to agree a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to continue working. In 2007, the WGA was unable to agree a deal with the AMPTP.

The cause of the strike was the writers' belief that they were being underpaid for DVD & "new media" residuals of their work. The studios did not wish to give a greater cut of profits, especially from the new & untested area of "new media", to writers.

A deal was reached in February 2008 that brought the end of the strike, the 100 days strike is estimated to have cost the economy of Los Angeles $1.5bn.