WGA East Members at McGee Media Ratify First Union Contract

WGA East Members at McGee Media Ratify First Union Contract

NEW YORK, NY (November 11, 2024) - Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at McGee Media overwhelmingly ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.

The 25-member McGee Media bargaining unit, which includes producers, archivists and researchers, began negotiations in April. The unit secured progressive gains and strong protections at the Nonfiction television production company founded by award-winning filmmaker Dyllan McGee.

McGee Media produces such documentaries as the PBS show FINDING YOUR ROOTS.

The ratified three-year agreement includes 3% annual raises, healthcare contributions and marks the first WGAE Nonfiction television shop contract to include paid parental leave.

Deal highlights include:

• Annual pay increase of 3%;
• Daily health care contributions (via the Entertainment Industry Flex Plan) starting Jan 1;
• A PTO policy with 10 guaranteed vacation days, in addition to 3 weeks paid parental leave. 6 sick days annually, 3 after two weeks of employment;
• Dark Period Protection: The Company must give at least 10 days notice ahead of dark weeks (i.e., weeks in which no work is expected to be performed), or partial payment if fewer than 10 days;
• The Right to Disconnect: After 8pm or on days off, workers are not required to respond to Company communications unless given notice in advance and clearly marked as urgent;
• Commitment to facilitate a welcoming and diverse workplace;
• Notice and discussion before any job-threatening AI tools are introduced;
• Union security.

In a statement, representatives of the McGee Media Union, said, "Members of the McGee Media Union unanimously ratified our first contract which gives members access to affordable healthcare, paid parental leave and annual pay increases. This contract sets a new standard for the documentary television industry and reflects the progressive values of McGee Media."

WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said, "Our members at McGee Media won a contract with gains that will improve the lives of workers at this award-winning production company and set precedents in the Nonfiction industry as a whole. We're committed to continuing this momentum with the recent organization of Nonfiction workers at A+E Factual Studios and RadicalMedia. All Nonfiction television workers deserve union protections."

In addition to McGee Media, the WGAE represents workers at Nonfiction production companies RadicalMedia, A+E Factual Studios, BSTV Entertainment, Jigsaw, Lion, NBC News Service (f.k.a. Peacock), McGee Media, Sharp, Story Syndicate and Vox Entertainment.

ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST

The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO, is a labor union of more than 7,500 members working in film, television, 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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