Nearly two years ago, the Writers Guild of America launched a historic 148-day strike that shut down scriptwriting industry-wide, made picket lines a staple of the Los Angeles landscape and compelled CEOs to the bargaining table.
While rank-and-file writers populated the picket lines and eventually voted through the strike-ending contract, much of the sturm und drang of that work stoppage was also facilitated by the work of internal union staffers in member organizing and legal departments (among others).
Now, many of those staffers are attempting to organize their own workplace, citing a desire to have their voices heard. WGA West employees are launching an effort to join the Pacific Northwest Staff Union, which specializes in representing workers in the labor movement, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
“We envision a workplace where our voices are heard, our work is valued and our jobs are protected by a collective bargaining agreement,” the group said in a message to union management that was delivered on Tuesday. “We believe that unionizing will bring staff and management together in our shared goal of supporting and protecting film and television writers.”
Organizers are attempting to bring more than 110 WGA West staffers – from those in the contracts to finance to research & public policy departments – into the fold. They also seek to loop in staffers at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.
The group, which requested voluntary recognition from the union but plans to file for a National Labor Relations Board election if that is not forthcoming, claims that a “supermajority” of staff has signed union cards signaling their support for the effort. THR has reached out to the WGA West for comment.
If their effort is successful, the WGA West will join WGA East staffers in being unionized union employees (WGA East workers are represented by the United Steelworkers). Staffers with SAG-AFTRA, Actors’ Equity and several IATSE Locals, likewise, are represented by OPEIU Local 537.
The Pacific Northwest Staff Union represents staffers at the LA County Federation of Labor, SEIU Locals and the SEIU International Union.
