Author Guild of America West has been accused of violating labor laws by laying off staff who helped organize guild employees.
The Pacific Northwest Staff Union gained voluntary recognition in April as a negotiating representative for 110 WGA staff. Staff are currently seeking greater employment protection as part of their initial contract.
In August, the union filed a complaint of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Commission, alleging that it was “unlawful dismissal of members of the WGSU Organising Committee.”
PNWSU declined to comment further on the allegations. In a statement, WGAW said “it is not against employees and will not retaliate.”
WGAW leadership congratulated staff on organizing in April, saying, “The right to organize and negotiate comprehensively is a central tenet of our organization.”
The Staff Union is beginning negotiations on its first contract with WGAW Tuesday evening. Among its top priorities is the “just cause” of employee discipline, along with a codification of competitive wages and existing health and retirement benefits, Staff Union said in a release. Staff also indicated they wanted protection from “unfair treatment.”
“We did a lot of work to get to this point and we are excited to get to the negotiation table,” said Dylan Holmes, a WGA lawyer who co-chairs the Staff Union Negotiation Committee. “Our priority is to negotiate a strong first contract that provides fair compensation, benefits and employment safety for our staff, so we can be in the best possible position to fight for writers after 2026.”
In that statement, the WGA said it looks forward to negotiating a contract with the staff union.
WGA West represents around 17,000 members, including around 5,000 honors and “current” members who do not vote in guild elections. The union will be responsible for a three-year new contract with the alliance of film and television producers next year. The current contract, which ended the 2023 author’s strike, expires on May 1, 2026.
Missy Brown, a 16-year-old employee of the guild, said the new staff union has already shown that “group voices are better than faced with management alone.”
“Now is the time to use our strength to negotiate higher wages, health and retirement benefits that have become ensh, and protection against unfair treatment,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to negotiating the best possible contract for me and my colleagues.”
Staff Union gained recognition from WGA West Management after signing cards supported by 81% of the negotiation units. The staff at WGA East and SAG-AFTRA are also organized.
PNWSU also represents certain SEIU locals and employees of the LA County Labor Federation.
