The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) chose to acknowledge a union established by their very own employees, following a tally which showed that the majority within the negotiating group preferred organizing.
The Writers Guild Staff Union has granted approval for all non-supervisory employees to become members of the Pacific Northwest Staff Union, following a vote where 81% of the bargaining group expressed support. This decision was announced on Tuesday. Approximately 110 staff members from departments such as legal, communications, and residuals will now be part of the PNWSU, an organization that also represents staff at the LA County Federation of Labor and various SEIU Locals.
As a passionate supporter, I’m thrilled to share that we’ve reached an accord on our initial request, marking a significant milestone towards securing a voice in shaping our work environment. No longer do we have to labor without the assurance of support against any potential repercussions. I’m proud to say that we’re now ready to engage in dialogue for our inaugural collective bargaining agreement, advocating vigorously for ourselves and eagerly anticipating this exciting journey ahead.
2023 marked the final step in a process initiated during the 148-day writers’ strike. On picket lines and at various gatherings – some of which were their first encounters – staff members started conversing and eventually united around the concept of creating a union. Previously, this idea had surfaced but was not sustained: Union employees had formed an independent union during another writers’ strike in 2007-2008; however, that union was later dissolved in 2012, leaving staff without a labor contract.
The group started gathering union membership forms from around April 8th and went on doing so until the tallying of those forms was completed on Tuesday.
Genevieve Gonsal, a 25-year veteran at the WGA West and a contracts coordinator who is part of the organizing team, expressed her pride in being involved with the groundbreaking establishment of the WGSU. She’s thrilled about what the future holds and toasted to unity, advancement, and the upcoming phase.
The process hasn’t been without its challenges: The organizing team claims that the WGA West, a union known for accusing employers of wrongdoing, has been involved in “union-busting” activities. As per a spokesperson from PNWSU, prior to the organizing group making their efforts public, some management personnel reportedly summoned certain staff members into their offices and inquired about union involvement. These employees were warned that if they chose to unionize, there could be potential layoffs or reductions in benefits.
In two days’ time, Fátima Murrieta, a previous union representative/organizer who served on the Writers Guild Staff Union’s organizing committee, was let go from her position in an action that raised suspicions. The Hollywood Reporter has sought a response from the WGA West for clarification.
On April 22nd, I proudly donned the black t-shirt that marked me as a WGA employee during the 2023 strike. Alongside it, I pinned a button bearing the name of our union, the Writers Guild Staff Union, signifying my support for our efforts to reorganize our workspace.
The union appeared to quickly respond to the call for unionization at that stage, and by the end of the week, it was reported that both parties had reached a consensus on the conditions of a signed-card process.
Currently, the Writers Guild Union is preparing to poll its members regarding their priorities and selecting a bargaining team. Once these steps are taken, negotiations for their initial contract will commence. Essentially, the Writers Guild of America has two major contract discussions approaching: the 2026 TV/theater negotiation on behalf of its writer members and the first contract negotiation with its own staff.
Jake Houlihan, an online services coordinator, expressed this in a statement before the card count on Tuesday: ‘Working within a union has shown me the immense value they bring.’ He emphasized that workplaces characterized by transparency, fair wages, equality, and unity significantly improve not only our own conditions but also those of our fellow union members.
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2025-04-30 03:24