Writers Guild East Files Another Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against ITV (Exclusive)

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At the production company responsible for the hit true crime series The First 48, the Writers Guild of America East is officially a union; however, in reality, it functions more as a name than an active entity. This is because, despite being over a dozen years old, its members have yet to receive their first contract detailing essentials such as dispute resolution processes, pay rates, and work conditions.

After multiple unsuccessful attempts at ITV’s Kirkstall Road Enterprises, fresh negotiations commenced in May 2024. However, as per a recent allegation of unfair labor practices filed by the writers’ union to the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday, ITV is failing to act as a cooperative negotiating partner.

According to the union, their accusation revolves around these points: not negotiating sincerely about required topics for negotiation, acting dishonestly, superficially, or piece by piece, and refusing to meet with the union during appropriate and frequent time frames.

Essentially, the union is expressing frustration over the company’s tardiness and lack of preparation during negotiations, which sometimes extends sessions by up to an hour. Moreover, the company isn’t always presenting counterproposals during these meetings. According to WGA East president Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, management has consistently been late, ill-prepared, and uncooperative during bargaining sessions, refusing to discuss crucial issues that impact members’ lives in a substantial way. The union warned ITV during the May 22 meeting that they would file an unfair labor practice complaint if there was no improvement in both preparedness and good-faith negotiations. Since neither of these improvements has been made, ITV has left the union with no choice but to take action.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to ITV for comment.

The WGA East’s recent action signifies an intensification of its ongoing conflict with ITV, as both parties are involved in a separate union at different subsidiaries that have yet to secure their primary contracts. In 2015, the WGA East successfully established a union at Leftfield Pictures, the production company behind popular reality shows like Pawn Stars and Alone.

(In this version, I’ve tried to make the text more accessible by simplifying the language without losing its original meaning.)

In February, the union submitted an accusation of unjust labor practices against Leftfield Pictures. However, this claim was later retracted once discussions on the initial contract started the following month, as stated by the union.

Working at Kirkstall Road Enterprises, I’ve noticed that the number of union members involved in negotiations flexibly adjusts according to the ongoing shows. It can range from a team of 20 to a group of 35 individuals, contributing their skills across various titles such as spinoffs of “The First 48”, including “After the First 48” and “Critical Minutes”.

At the negotiation stage, there are still points of contention such as if creative professionals will get yearly wage raises and a consistent 401(k) contribution match. The two parties are also at an impasse regarding remote work policies and health insurance matters, according to a representative from WGA East.

The representative from WGA East stated that it appears those negotiations are not a top priority for the other party, and it is clear that they are of great importance for both the Writers Guild as well as the people working on these shows. (THR was mentioned in the original sentence but has been omitted for clarity)

Previously, the union has made efforts to expedite matters by means such as submitting a petition, which garnered around 500 signatures from members like Robert Eggers, the director of “Nosferatu”, and Mary Harron, the writer-director of “American Psycho”. The union’s most recent action includes this petition, with their spokesperson stating, “We’re resorting to this because we feel it’s necessary. We’ve exhausted all other options in trying to get the company to acknowledge our seriousness.

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2025-06-17 18:25