The staff of the Writers Guild of America West has achieved a significant milestone by winning voluntary recognition for their new bargaining unit. With over 81% of employees signing cards in support, the 110 staff members of the WGA West will now be represented by the Pacific Northwest Staff Union in negotiations. This decision to recognize the union through a card-check process, rather than a vote, demonstrates the WGA West’s commitment to supporting their employees’ rights and voices in the workplace.
Doug MacIsaac, a WGA operations coordinator, expressed excitement about the agreement on their first demand and the opportunity to improve their workplace conditions through collective bargaining. By organizing without fear of retaliation, the staff members are looking forward to advocating for themselves and negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement.
The Pacific Northwest Staff Union will represent workers across various departments within the guild, including those handling residuals, contracts, communications, research, and the WGA theater. This union has a track record of representing employees from organizations like the L.A. County Federation of Labor and chapters of the Service Employees International Union, showing their experience in advocating for workers’ rights.
Genevieve Gonsal, a WGA contracts coordinator, reflected on her 25-year journey with the guild and expressed her honor to be a part of the historic formation of the WGSU. She highlighted the solidarity, progress, and possibilities that lie ahead for the staff members represented by the union. With employees of WGA East and SAG-AFTRA already being represented, the formation of the WGSU marks another step towards ensuring fair working conditions and collective bargaining power for entertainment industry professionals.
Overall, the voluntary recognition of the new bargaining unit by the WGA West staff signifies a positive development in the ongoing efforts to empower workers and improve workplace conditions within the entertainment industry. The unity and determination displayed by the staff members bode well for future negotiations and collective actions that will benefit all those involved in the WGA West.
