Writers Guild of America Members Unanimously Ratify New Public Broadcasting Contract

NEW YORK CITY – Public television writers represented by the Writers Guild of America have ratified their new contract unanimously. The four-year agreement will take effect immediately and covers members who write content for the three major producers of public television programming, WGBH, WNET and KCET, as well as numerous other, smaller production companies that produce content for PBS.

“Public television and its continuing innovations in digital media continue to make it one of the most important and trusted sources in America and around the world for independent journalism and documentary production, as well as superior programming in the arts, history and science. Writers Guild members have been crucial to its quality and success and we are delighted that this new contract continues our productive, successful relationship,” said Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).

“We’re extremely happy to have negotiated this contract for our PBS members, providing strong gains at a time when public television’s budgets have been hit by declines in corporate and charitable giving and when many stations have laid people off and cut operations.  By negotiating and ratifying this contract, our members have ensured they will continue to write the intelligent, high-quality programs PBS is known for, whether the programs are distributed on television or over the Internet,” said Lowell Peterson, WGAE executive director and chief negotiator for this contract.    

Made-for-Internet programming will be covered for the first time under this new collective bargaining agreement, which also preserves payments for digital reuse.

WGA employees working at these stations will receive rate increases of 2% in the second year and 2.75% in the third and fourth years.    

The Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO, is a labor union representing writers in motion pictures, television, cable, digital media, and broadcast news. The WGAE conducts programs, seminars, and events on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers. In addition, it represents writers’ interests on the legislative level.  For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit www.wgaeast.org.

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