Michele Mulroney, a prominent screenwriter and the current vice president of the Writers Guild of America West, is stepping up to run for the position of president of the guild for the upcoming two-year term. She is the sole candidate listed on the initial nominees’ roster, with the deadline for additional candidates to submit at least 25 signatures by July 23.
The incumbent president, Meredith Stiehm, a well-known TV showrunner, has served in the role for the past four years. According to the WGA constitution, Stiehm is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term, paving the way for Mulroney to potentially take the helm.
Mulroney has been actively involved in the guild’s advocacy against the issue of “free work,” particularly concerning feature writers. The guild has long been vocal about the practice of requiring writers to undergo multiple revisions without proper compensation, a violation of the collective bargaining agreement. This issue has become more prevalent with the introduction of “one-step” deals in the late 1990s. Notably, during the 2023 strike, the union secured a guaranteed “second step” for feature writers earning below 200% of the guild minimum.
In accordance with the union’s constitution, a nominating committee is responsible for presenting at least two candidates for each officer position. For the roles of vice president and secretary-treasurer, Jeffrey Thompson and Travis Donnelly have been nominated for the former, while Van Robichaux and Peter Murrieta are in the running for the latter. Additionally, a separate committee has put forth 17 candidates for the eight open seats on the WGA West board.
Prospective candidates have the opportunity to join the race for officer positions and board seats through a petition process. The guild is expected to release a final list of candidates by late July, with the voting period set to commence on August 29 and conclude on September 23.
The upcoming election marks a significant moment for the Writers Guild of America West, as members have the chance to shape the future leadership of the organization and continue advocating for the rights and fair treatment of writers in the industry.
