WGAE and MPEG Members Sign Petition Demanding Fair Contracts at Story Syndicate

NEW YORK, NY (November 14, 2024) – After eight months of bargaining, the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Motion Picture Editors Guild IATSE Local 700 (MPEG) today delivered a petition to Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, the owners of the nonfiction production company Story Syndicate, demanding they settle a fair contract in an expeditious manner.

Among the more than 250 WGAE and MPEG members who signed the petition are Douglas Abeles, Patricia Aufderheide, Natalie Bullock Brown, Anya Epstein, Halley Feiffer, Zev Frank, Tom Fontana, Josh Gondelman, Graham Gordy, James Schamus, Diana Son, Jill Twiss, Lilly Wachowski and John Walsh.

The petition reads:

As film industry professionals representing a wide variety of genres, we stand by the Story Syndicate workers represented by Writers Guild of America East and the Motion Picture Editors Guild IATSE Local 700 during their ongoing contract negotiations.

Since its inception, Story Syndicate has been at the pinnacle of documentary filmmaking within the industry and an organization we have long respected for the perspective they bring to cinematic storytelling. You both are held in high esteem for your vision and craft.

More than a year ago, Story Syndicate recognized the union and it is long past due for them to agree to a fair contract. That’s why we are urging you to settle a fair contract with your workers who are represented by MPEG and WGAE in an expeditious manner. Long delays, proposals that are out of line with industry standards, and refusals to respond to important proposals would not reflect well on the company’s stated principles. Your workers deserve fair wages, adequate healthcare, and paid time off.

We stand united in support of the union’s proposals and their call for a fair contract. Many of us know the mental, physical, and financial sacrifices that come with building a sustainable career in this industry, but we are only as strong as the teams we work with who are seeking the same benefits available in every other industry. We are calling on Story Syndicate to be the industry leaders they are and set a precedent others can follow to create a truly inclusive and transparent work environment.

With this contract, we believe that Story Syndicate can continue to produce meaningful content about human beings and extend that same regard to its own employees.

Read the full petition with signees here.

“While Liz and Dan are known as progressive media figures, Story Syndicate workers have grown increasingly frustrated by their anti-union positions at the bargaining table,” said WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. “We call on Story Syndicate to live up to its values and settle a collective bargaining agreement that is in line with other industry contracts. Those workers deserve fair wages, healthcare and vacation time, along with union security and basic protections against losing their jobs to AI, which the company has so far completely rejected.”

Story Syndicate, founded in 2019 and led by Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, produces high-profile, award-winning nonfiction features and series, including “Harry and Meghan” (Netflix), the “Unknown” series (Netflix), “Fauci” (National Geographic), “All In: The Fight For Democracy” (Amazon), “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (HBO), and “Icarus” (Netflix).

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

ABOUT THE MOTION PICTURE EDITORS GUILD
The Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) is Local 700 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, AFL-CIO. Established in 1937, the Guild now represents roughly 8,000 post-production professionals working nationwide in television, features, and new media.  For more information on the Motion Picture Editors Guild, visit editorsguild.com.

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