Most online media companies have respected their employees’ democratic right to organize and recognized the union after verifying that a majority of employees signed union authorization cards. Union recognition means that the company has a legal obligation to bargain a contract. WHEN IS THE UNION OFFICIAL?Ī workplace is “officially” union upon winning union recognition. Union members across the industry are working together to support each other and build a long-term movement to address and change systemic issues like diversifying the media industry and protecting critical journalism. Industries with union density have fewer pay gaps and higher pay overall. Organizing a union isn’t only about the future of one company. Union members in online media participate in building the company through the creation of committees and increased communication and collaboration across regions and departments. For example, HuffPosters negotiated unprecedented contract language that provides a process for revenue sharing of derivative works.Īdditionally, union membership expands the role of editorial staff in the management and direction of a company. Companies expand rapidly and, even if that doesn’t result in layoffs, workers deserve a seat at the table to participate in decisions made about the future of the companies they helped build. Organizing is a way to ensure a seat at the table and guarantee terms of employment, including policies on severance, layoffs, discipline, and termination. Leadership structures, ownership, and editorial direction of media and news companies change rapidly. I’M NOT CURRENTLY UNHAPPY, WHY DOES ORGANIZING MAKE SENSE? Each group works together to decide and define the boundaries of editorial staff. Typical WGAE bargaining units in online media include writers, reporters, and editors, as well as a range of people doing creative and editorial work, such as video producers and social media managers. Our mission is to build a community of creative professionals with the willing to support each other and the power to secure fair industry standards. For decades the Writers Guild has been essential in fighting for better standards in working conditions, compensation, and the respect of dignity of members. The Writers Guild of America, East is a labor union of thousands of creative professionals who create online media, television and motion pictures. WHAT IS THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, EAST? Thrillist Organizing Committee member Anthony Schneck wrote in his own words why he and co-workers came together to organize a union.
This includes, for example, regular meetings with management and organizing workplace diversity committees. That means that unionized companies have a mechanism in place to share information across employees and to take collective action if and when necessary.
Organized workplaces have structures for democratic representation and collective decision making processes. Negotiating a union contract is a core element of any unionized workplace, however, it doesn’t stop there.
Creative professionals also negotiate to address workplace “culture” issues, including: transparency, communication, diversity, and editorial policies and independence. Online media employees want to address core economic concerns, including: preserving or improving benefits (leave time, 401k, health insurance, vacation), pay equity and transparency, regular and fair cost of living increases, and working conditions (such as hours). Though priorities vary from company to company, the issues tend to revolve around the same categories. Each group decides what to advocate for at the bargaining table as a union. 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. In just over two years, hundreds of online media employees have come together to unionize their workplaces and negotiate union contracts. F.A.Q.s about unionizing in the online media industry WHY ARE ONLINE MEDIA EMPLOYEES ORGANIZING UNIONS?
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