Latest in WGA East

Writers and producers at Gimlet Media and The Ringer, which were two of the first podcast production companies to unionize with the WGA East, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreements. The contracts, which the guild called “groundbreaking,” were unanimously ratified by the 48 members o the bargaining…

The WGA East has joined the chorus of industry guilds condemning the rising tide of hate crimes against Asian Americans, joining SAG-AFTRA, the DGA and the WGA West in condemning the surge of violent attacks that many observers pin on incendiary comments made by former President Donald Trump about the origins of the…

Leaders of the Hollywood's unions today outlined their legislative agenda to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the arts, entertainment and media industries, including a call on Congress to pass a flurry of legislation to increase federal arts funding; establish diversity objectives for grant recipients; to…

An all-star lineup of entertainment industry union leaders will discuss their diversity, equity and inclusion policy agenda next week during a press conference hosted by the AFL-CIO's Department of Professional Employees. The policy agenda focuses on legislative action that furthers the work the unions and guilds…

The production staffs at The Ringer and Gimlet are staging a two-hour walkout today in support of the WGA East's attempts to win a new contract for them. The two podcast production companies are owned by Spotify, the audio streaming and media services company with which the guild has been trying to reach an agreement…

Staffers at the Committee to Protect Journalists have gotten some protection of their own, ratifying their first-ever contract through the WGA East. The deal for the 30-member bargaining unit comes after more than 600 guild members signed a petition last month urging the CPJ's management to agree to a union contact…

Staffers at the Committee to Protect Journalists who have been seeking the protection of a WGA East contract have received support from more than 600 of the guild's members, including Adam McKay, Amy Schumer, and David Simon. A petition signed by their guild supporters was delivered to CPJ management today in advance…

The WGA East has launched a Safe Workplace Helpline for members who experience harassment or discrimination. The launch of the helpline "puts in place a secure voicemail and email address for members to confidentially contact Guild staff and report any harassment or discrimination," said WGA East executive director Low…

The WGA East has launched the WGA Audio Alliance to help fiction writers organize high-budget scripted podcasts under the guild's contracts. In the past two years, the guild has organized several nonfiction podcast companies, including Gimlet, The Ringer and Parcast. And though most of the 600,000 podcasts currently…

Hoping to save local news outlets whose advertising revenues have plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic, the WGA East is supporting the Future of Local News Commission Act, which was introduced today in the U.S. Senate. The proposed law would create a commission of 13 members to examine the implications to…

Leaders of the WGA East, which represent thousands of news writers and producers, condemned comments made Tuesday by President Donald Trump when he told a cheering crowd at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh that he was happy to have seen police rough up a journalist. Police in Minneapolis, he said, had thrown aside a…

Women writers carried the day in the WGA East's Council elections, winning nine of the ten seats up for grabs. The only man to win a seat was former WGA East president Michael Winship. It was also a good day for incumbents, who won eight of the ten contests. Votes were cast by just over 12% of the guild's 6,208…