The Writers Guild of America and major film studios agreed on terms for an updated contract for union members late Monday night, narrowly avoiding a strike. Despite neither side apparently receiving what they fully wanted, minimum pay and contributions towards employees health plans were increased significantly. The new contract also includes a 15 percent increase in pay-TV residuals and job protection during paternity leave. The three-year contract was especially difficult to negotiate due to the changing nature of TV displayed in trends towards short, streamed TV seasons. The Writers Guild would have gone on strike if the deal had not been reached at the end of May 1.
See "Strike averted: Writers Guild of America reaches agreement with studios and touts gains in TV pay and health plan", David Ng, LA Times, May 2, 2017