Writers Guild of America East Wins Voluntary Recognition at McGee Media
NEW YORK, NY (December 20, 2023) – Management at McGee Media, the nonfiction television production company founded by award-winning filmmaker Dyllan McGee, has voluntarily recognized the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) as the collective bargaining representative of the staff’s creative professionals including Producers, Production Assistants, and Researchers.
A card-check conducted by an independent third-party confirmed that a majority of the 25-member bargaining unit signed cards in favor of the union. The union aims to begin negotiations with McGee Media as soon as possible. McGee Media has produced such nonfiction docu-series as Finding Your Roots, No Accident, Black History in Two Minutes, and Gospel.
“The voluntary recognition of workers at McGee Media is an exciting step in our ongoing unionization efforts within nonfiction television production,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the WGAE. “We welcome our members at McGee Media, and look forward to securing workplace protections and benefits for the unit.”
The WGAE’s McGee Media explained their reasons for unionizing in the following “Why We’re Organizing” letter:
We, the dedicated and talented team at McGee Media, are thrilled to announce that after careful consideration and numerous democratic discussions, we have formed a union with the Writers Guild of America, East. This decision reflects our collective commitment to fostering a collaborative, equitable, and respectful work environment that aligns with McGee’s core values and aspirations: using storytelling in radical new ways to create a more fair and equitable world.
Our decision to form a union should not be seen as an expression of dissatisfaction, but a testament to our shared vision for a brighter future both at McGee and across the genre of nonfiction film and television. We stand in solidarity with our fellow nonfiction creative professionals who have bravely organized their production companies – most recently Jigsaw, BSTV, and Story Syndicate. Together, we understand that organizing is the most effective tool we have for transforming this complex industry.
We know that by joining together as a union, we can best achieve the following objectives:
- Collective Bargaining: We aim to establish a platform for negotiating equitable employment terms, including fair compensation, reasonable working hours, and comprehensive benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and parental leave.
- Job Security: The “permanent freelance” nature of this industry makes job stability a top concern. We look forward to working collaboratively to codify protections against unexpected layoffs, dark weeks, and furloughs.
- Transparent Communication & Fair Treatment: Effective communication is the lifeblood of any strong organization. By forming a union, we aim to create pathways for open and honest dialogue with management, allowing us to address concerns constructively and cultivate a more inclusive and fair workplace culture.
- Professional Growth: We believe that WGAE can help us access opportunities for professional development that will aid in career growth, further enhancing our ability to contribute to the company’s success and reinforcing our competitive edge in the industry.
We see our decision to unionize as an affirmative step toward strengthening our existing relationship with members of management in cooperative and mutually beneficial ways. It is also an opportunity for us to work together more effectively, ensuring a prosperous future for our team and McGee Media as a whole. We strongly believe in the messages at the heart of the stories we tell – of triumphs in the face of adversity and oppression – and we want McGee Media to be a place that allows us to flourish, so we can maximize the impact of this important work.
Our commitment to creating a union that nurtures transparency, respect, and fairness is unwavering. We look forward to working together to create a more vibrant and inclusive workplace.
In Solidarity,
The Organizing Committee of the McGee Media Union
In addition to McGee Media, the WGAE represents workers at nonfiction production companies BSTV Entertainment, Jigsaw, ITV Kirkstall/Leftfield, Lion, NBC News Service (f.k.a. Peacock), Sharp, Story Syndicate, VICE, and Vox Entertainment. The Guild represents 7,000 workers in film, television, news, podcasts, and online media.
ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST
The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in film, television, broadcast and streaming news, podcasts, and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit wgaeast.org.
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