Thousands of media employees have come together to unionize their workplaces and negotiate union contracts. Fundamentally, the demand of any group of workers forming a union is the same – to win a formal seat at the table in order to negotiate over the future of their workplace and raise standards across their industry. The resulting [...]
The Writers Guild of America, East is a labor union of over 6,000 creative professionals in broadcast news, scripted television and motion pictures, and digital media. For decades, the Writers Guild has been essential in fighting for better standards in working conditions, compensation, and the rights of its members in their industry. The WGAE’s mission is [...]
A union is organized when a group of employees (in this case, the editorial staff of MSNBC and The Choice) gather together to advocate for their interests and negotiate a contract with management to set minimum standards. Union contracts are common in our industry and can address everything from salaries and benefits to diversity and inclusion. [...]
Once the union and management bargaining committee reach a tentative agreement on the contract, it is voted into place by the membership. Once the contract is in effect, members nominate a representative union committee. The union committee works with Guild staff to enforce the contract and communicate with management about additional issues in the workplace. The [...]
Organizing a union is the best way to protect the benefits we currently have, which are at the full discretion of management in a non-union environment. Once our union is recognized, the company must maintain the status quo and can no longer make unilateral changes to employee benefits; any changes must be negotiated through the collective [...]
Bargaining a contract is about identifying core issues that need to be clarified, which requires compromise and collaboration. The process isn’t perfect or magic. There can be conflict at various stages of the process, whether it is co-workers who disagree with each other or managers who push back on proposals or union involvement. Contract negotiations are [...]
Guild staff work with the elected Council and interested members to implement a range of initiatives. In just the last year, Guild members have applied for grants to start writing fellowship programs, hosted film screenings, social events, and professional development courses, and collaborated on initiatives like the Diversity Coalition and lobbying for diversity tax credits in [...]
Through continued conversations and a bargaining survey, we determine the bargaining priorities and what does or doesn’t work for our workplace, then work with the WGAE staff to develop proposals that specifically address those issues. Those proposals are voted into place by us – the employees. G/O Media, Vox Media, VICE, Fast Company, Slate, and others [...]
Union contracts address a broad range of issues, from pay and benefits to editorial standards and diversity. While contracts can set minimums for pay, they don’t set maximums – and individuals still retain the right to negotiate above and beyond the minimum rates.
A key part of contract negotiations is conducting a thorough financial analysis of the institution. The company is compelled to disclose certain information. Through a detailed cost-out of each proposal and this analysis, we propose realistic improvements that will work for employees and the company. Companies often think that they are running their operations as efficiently [...]