WGA Film and TV Writers Urge Amazon Warehouse Workers in Alabama to Unionize
NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES (February 26, 2021) – Tina Fey (MR. MAYOR), Alfonso Cuarón (ROMA), and Damon Lindelof (WATCHMEN) are among the more than 1,760 members of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) to sign a petition supporting Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama who are voting to form a union with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
The petition, which was sent today to leadership at Amazon.com, Inc., reads:
Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama are voting to form a union with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
We are the writers of feature films and television series. All of our work is done under union contracts whether it appears on Amazon Prime, a different streaming service, or a television network.
Unions protect workers with essential rights and benefits. Most importantly, a union gives employees a seat at the table to negotiate fair pay, scheduling and more workplace policies.
Amazon accepts unions for entertainment workers, and we believe warehouse workers deserve the same respect in the workplace.
We strongly urge all Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer to VOTE UNION YES.
Petition signers include writers from more than 30 Amazon original programs, including BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM, CARNIVAL ROW, HOMECOMING, JACK RYAN, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, LORE, I LOVE DICK, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, and TRANSPARENT.
The petition was signed by Ta-Nehisi Coates (WRONG ANSWER), Lilly Wachowski (THE MATRIX FRANCHISE), Seth Meyers (LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS), Michael Schur (THE GOOD PLACE), Adam McKay (VICE), Adele Lim (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) Shaka King (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH), Rachel Bloom (CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND), Scott Frank (THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT), Katori Hall (P-VALLEY), David Simon (THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA), Greg Berlanti (LOVE, SIMON), Michelle King (THE GOOD FIGHT), David Mandel (VEEP), Joe Hill (LOCKE & KEY), Michael Rauch (INSTINCT), Rebecca Miller (MAGGIE’S PLAN), Tony Kushner (ANGELS IN AMERICA), Amber Ruffin (THE AMBER RUFFIN SHOW), Sara Schaefer (THE HISTORY OF SWEAR WORDS), Hannibal Buress (30 ROCK), Emily Shesh (WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA), Sarah Silverman ( I LOVE YOU, AMERICA), Carly Mensch (GLOW),Tavi Gevinson (HARRIET THE SPY), Tony Gilroy (BOURNE FRANCHISE), John Sayles (LONESTAR), Pamela Ribon (RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET), Erica Saleh (ONE OF US IS LYING), Richard Price (THE NIGHT OF), Ilana Glazer (THE PLANET IS BURNING) and Abbi Jacobson (A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN), as well as Guild President’s Beau Willimon (HOUSE OF CARDS) and David A Goodman (FAMILY GUY).
A copy of the petition with all signers can be found here.
The Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) are labor unions representing writers in motion pictures, television, cable, digital media, and broadcast news. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars, and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit www.wgaeast.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America West, visit www.wga.org.
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