WGA East Members Approve Changes To Guild Statutes To Ensure “Balanced Representation” Among Digital Profits

WGA East members overwhelmingly supported changes to the guild constitution, designed to ensure “more balanced representation” of members, including those working in film, television and broadcast and digital media.

The referendum, which was approved by 1,567-40 (98-2%) votes, includes the creation of three worker vice presidents that include members working in film/television/broadcast, broadcast/cable/news streaming and online media.

“I’m proud of the union and the way our officers and council members work together, often facing unresolved issues but reaching consensus,” union president Michael Winship said on Thursday. “We are united and determined now as we face major battles in the coming year, from MBA negotiations with studios and networks to solid contracts for our new stores.

The guild said in a statement that the WGAE Board “spent a year working with Guild staff, an outside facilitator and an outside employment attorney to make the proposed changes, ensuring that each sector controls its own interests.” And non-intervention contracts. This will be done through proportional representation on the board, based on existing member demographics and a new electoral structure where members will vote only for management representatives from their workforce sector.

Supporting unanimously the approval of the constitutional amendment referendum for membership, the council also approved a new organizational resolution that fully supports the union’s organization of writers in all labor sectors. According to the union, “the organizational decision created a committee of board members from all fields of work currently meeting to advise and advise employees on the potential organization’s goals and overall, logical strategy. and the organization’s long-term

Just a few years ago, the vast majority of guild members were television writers and screenwriters. But an aggressive campaign to organize dozens of digital news outlets such as Salon, Slate, and HuffPost over the past six years has begun to change the League’s demographics so dramatically that broadcast and digital news members make up the majority of Guild members. .

Last year, Guild leaders were so concerned about changing Guild demographics that they talked openly about moving digital news members to a separate guild. This concern was voiced last summer during the Guild Officials and Board elections, when elected Secretary General Chris Kylie took office, warning that the influx of digital news writers and producers poses an “existential threat to the Guild.” “It’s pouring.”

During that election, Winship told Deadline that the digital media outlet is “forced” many new members to “stop for a moment, pause for a moment, and go where we are.”

However, the Solidarity Opposition Guild dominated the controversial municipal races, campaigning in the belief that “it is important that we continue to organize the entire industry.”

The two sides repaired the fence in February, when the council unanimously supported the relaunch of the digital news organization, the Guild said: “As the media industry continues to come together across different sectors, the WGAE Council is considering how to address the changes. Guild membership and how to ensure that the association can meet the needs of all members in digital and broadcast news, podcasts, screenwriting and nonfiction television, feature films and public service broadcasting.

In April, Winship said, “When I say it’s a learning process where everyone brainstorms and listens to each other, I think I speak for everyone involved. We are united now. I’m excited for the conclusion and next chapter of this Brave Storyteller Guild.”