The American Rescue Plan Benefits WGAE Members

NEW YORK, NY (MARCH 10, 2021) – The following is a statement from Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East, on passage of the American Rescue Plan:

The stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Senate and House, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, includes a number of provisions of particular benefit to members of the Writers Guild of America, East.

Here are some provisions the union fought particularly hard for:

• Payroll Protection Program funds will now be available to support employees at digital-native news organizations. The Writers Guild of America, East is the main advocate for digital journalists on Capitol Hill. Our advocacy got PPP to provide economic relief to digital-native newsrooms with 500 or fewer employees at each physical location.
• COBRA premiums will be subsidized at 100%. Using tax credits, the federal government will pay 100% of COBRA premiums through September 30, 2021. Members who lose coverage from the PWGA health fund or employer-sponsored health plans should be able to take advantage of this subsidy. The WGAE is in close communication with the PWGA health fund; of course it will take time for the fund to work through the logistical issues.
• Substantial increases in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

We thank our active, engaged membership, the AFL-CIO’s Department for Professional Employees, and our sister unions for their stalwart support. And we would not have been able to win gains, especially for digital journalists, without the unwavering leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the persistent efforts of our champions in the U.S. Senate and House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Tim Kaine, and Senator Ben Cardin.

Work will begin soon on another economic package in the House and Senate, and we will remain vigilant to ensure that the interests of writers – and working people in general – are addressed.

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