by Larry Brody
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Yes, I know that’s a very cornball phrase, but unfortunately there isn’t much else to say.
In other words, I just received this email from the WGA:
Dear Members,
Writers Guild of America (WGA) members at PBS member stations WGBH, THIRTEEN and PBS SoCal voted to authorize a strike if management does not agree to a fair deal before their current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 21, 2024.
The 94-member bargaining unit voted 100% in favor of the strike authorization with 83% participation by eligible members. The Council of the Writers Guild of America East and the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America West both unanimously approved the strike authorization vote.
PBS writers have so far been unable to reach a deal to win first-ever union protections for animation writers, fair compensation for writer-producers, WGA coverage of all made-for-new-media programs and reasonable residual payments for reuse on streaming services.
In addition, writers at 20 animated series, including PBS’ ALMA’S WAY, CARL THE COLLECTOR, CYBERCHASE, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, MOLLY OF DENALI, PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC and WORK IT OUT WOMBATS!, signed a pledge to not cross a picket line should a strike be called by the union.
If management fails to reach a deal with their unionized writers and a strike is called, all WGA members would be prohibited from performing struck work for PBS and PBS member stations. In addition, pickets would take place at THIRTEEN in New York, WGBH in Boston and at PBS SoCal in Los Angeles.
We will continue to update you as negotiations progress.
Thank you for your support.
In solidarity,
Meredith Stiehm, WGAW President
Michele Mulroney, WGAW Vice President
Betsy Thomas, WGAW Secretary-Treasurer
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, WGAE President
Erica Saleh, WGAE Vice President, Film/Television/Streaming
Christopher Kyle, WGAE Secretary-Treasurer
