This Just In: WGA East Unionizes Onion News Network

NEW YORK CITY – The writers on the Onion News Network have joined the community of funnypersons represented by the Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO. The WGAE and ONN management negotiated a first-ever collective bargaining agreement covering the show, which will air on the Independent Film Channel beginning in September.

“The ONN writers stood together and won real improvements,” said WGAE Executive Director Lowell Peterson. “We welcome them into the WGAE and we look forward to a productive relationship with the company.” Peterson noted that more than 70 Guild members from all of the New York-based comedy shows signed a letter supporting the ONN writers, and hundreds of Guild members sent emails to the producers.

The agreement will increase minimum weekly compensation and provide pension and health contributions, retroactive to the start of writing earlier this summer. The producers also agreed to add writers and writing weeks, furthering the parties’ mutual goal of creating the best possible program.

The ONN’s second season begins on September 30. There will be ten weekly episodes.