WGA East Files ULP Against G/O Media for Bad Faith Bargaining with The Onion Union

NEW YORK and CHICAGO (January 25, 2024) – The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge against G/O Media for “bargaining in bad faith” at Onion Inc. (The Onion, The A.V. Club, Deadspin, The Takeout), whose current contract expires on January 31.

The ULP states G/O Media violated the National Labor Relations Act by “bargaining in bad faith when the Employer engaged in threatening and intimidating behavior, made threats to cancel agreed upon release time for bargaining committee members, unilaterally canceled previously agreed upon in-person negotiations with the Union, and failed to proffer management representatives with the authority to reach an agreement.”

In a statement, The Onion Union said, “We came ready to bargain for a fair contract and make movement to reach a middle ground. It’s unfortunate that management is not interested in getting a deal or bargaining in good faith. We’re simply asking for fair pay and basic protections against AI, which is an existential threat to our industry. There is one person standing in the way of this deal: G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller.”

The Onion Union announced last week that 97% of their 35-member bargaining unit signed a pledge to strike if they do not reach a fair agreement with parent company G/O Media before their contract expires on January 31.

ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST
The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing 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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