WGA East Members at Pushkin Industries Ratify Union First Contract
NEW YORK, NY (March 14, 2025)—Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at the podcast production company Pushkin Industries and management reached a deal on a first collective bargaining agreement. The contract was unanimously ratified by the 12-member bargaining unit who work as writers, producers, editors and engineers.
Pushkin, co-founded by Jacob Weisberg and Malcolm Gladwell, produces hit podcasts like “Revisionist History,” “Deep Cover” “Broken Record,” “Against the Rules with Michael Lewis,” and “Where’s Dia?,” among other series.
The new contract establishes a minimum salary of $73,000. Workers will receive guaranteed 6% raise the first year of the contract and 3% raises for the second and third year of the contract. Workers also receive a 3% 401(k) employer match.
Additional highlights from the contract include:
- Guaranteed IP negotiation for shows where unit members write, research and host their own ideas;
- Artificial intelligence protections including allowing workers to decline their byline for content or altered by AI or created AI and the Company cannot use a worker’s voice or likeness to create content without consent;
- Enshrining Quiet Weeks in August and December;
- 16 weeks fully paid parental leave;
- A minimum 12 weeks of severance, plus laptop;
- Protections for remote and hybrid employees;
- Reports on Company’s diversity, equity and inclusion work;
- Just Cause;
- Union Security.
The Pushkin bargaining unit said, “We’re proud of this contract, and we think it reflects the strength of the community we’ve built at Pushkin and is an essential part of the movement to build better standards across the industry. We’re grateful to leadership for working with us throughout this process and for investing in our future together. The unit is looking forward to it!”
Pushkin CEO Gretta Cohn said, “I know how much effort and care went into negotiations, and am delighted that we’ve reached an agreement. We’re excited about the future at Pushkin, and grateful that we’re moving forward united, towards the same shared goals.”
In addition to Pushkin Industries, the WGAE represents workers at podcast production companies Crooked Media, the iHeart Podcast Network, Lemonada, Pineapple Street Studios, The Ringer and Spotify Studios. 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, 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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