What is the Guild?

Understanding the Writers Guild of America East, our purpose, and how we serve writers across all media.

Introduction & Mission

The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for motion pictures, television, news 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....

Fast Facts about the Guild

  • Founded in 1954
  • Comprised of writers and creative professionals in film, television, news and new media industries
  • Over 6,000 members (and growing)

Who we are

The Writers Guild of America East is a labor union whose membership is comprised of thousands of writers and media professionals. Our members are the primary creators of what is seen, heard, and read across television, film, radio, and the internet. Our members create everything from big-budget movies and independent films to television dramas, sitcoms, and comedy/variety shows; from daytime television to nonfiction/”reality” television to broadcast/cable/streaming news and online media; from podcasts, web series, and animation to reality TV shows and documentaries. In general, our membership is divided into three groups, based on the three types of contracts we negotiate:
Film/TV/Streaming

Primarily the writers of feature film, television, podcast, and new media projects. Film/TV/Streaming members work under he Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA), as well as other related Film/TV/Streaming agreements.

View contracts
Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News members 

Primarily the writers of news programs across television, radio, and streaming platforms. These members work under workplace/shop-specific contracts, which are negotiated between each shop’s bargaining unit and its management.

View contracts
Online Media

Primarily the writers and editors of news and media distributed across online, digital-first platforms. These members work under workplace/shop-specific contracts, which are negotiated between each shop’s bargaining unit and its management.

View contracts
Our membership jurisdiction covers a range of titles and positions within sectors.

How the Guild Operates

The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for motion pictures, television, news 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....
Council

Our democratically elected Council sets policy, negotiates contracts, and represents member interests in all Guild decisions.

Learn About Council
Guild Staff

Professional staff members provide daily support, handle member services, and execute Council policies and decisions.

Meet Our Staff

What We Do

Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) Every three years, the WGAE, in conjunction with the Writers Guild of America West, renegotiates the Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA). The MBA covers the economic standards for the majority of our members who write for television and feature films, and is the agreement which ensures that writers’ benefits and rights are protected.
 Learn more about the history of MBA contract negotiations and gains. What benefits and rights are protected under the MBA? Minimum Compensation Credit for Your Work Residual Payments Separated Rights Pension & Health Benefits Other Film/TV/Streaming Contracts In addition to the MBA, the Guild negotiates and enforces other Film/TV/Streaming contracts which cover writers who work on low-budget projects, such as documentaries and independent films; new media projects, such as webseries and videogames; and fiction and nonfiction podcasts. The protections afforded by these agreements are similar to those afforded by the MBA. Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News Contracts Many of our members are covered by Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News contracts, or collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News contracts tend to cover workplaces where members all work in one location (or “shop”) and produce news for television, radio, and streaming platforms. Online Media Contracts Many of our members are covered by Online Media contracts, or collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Online Media contracts tend to cover workplaces where members all work in one location (or “shop”), where the material they create is distributed via online, digital-first platforms.

Why Our Work Matters

The Writers Guild of America East was officially founded in 1954, but the path to the Writers Guild is a long one which runs alongside the histories of both the entertainment industry and the labor movement. Since 1954, the Writers Guild of America East and Writers Guild of America West have negotiated and administered minimum basic agreements with major film producers and networks and stations, covering theatrical and television films, broadcast and cable television, documentary film and radio, public and commercial television.
From adding writers from the then-emerging television industry to our ranks in the 1950s, to striking for fair compensation for digital distribution platforms during the 2008 MBA contract negotiations, the Writers Guild of America East also has a long history of advocating for the rights of writers and creative professionals from new and developing media industries. Since 2015, we’ve continued that legacy by building power at online media sites through successful organizing campaigns at Gawker Media, Vice, HuffPost, Vox Media, and others; and in the nonfiction industry through both our Portable Healthcare campaign and successful organizing campaigns at production companies like Peacock, Sharp, and ITV.

When You Should Contact Us

  • The short answer is: any time. Whether you’re a new member, non-member, or have been part of the Guild for decades, you are not alone in your career. Writers have power in navigating your career because they are navigating it alongside the thousands of their fellow creative professionals who work under WGA-negotiated contracts.
  • If you have a question about management practices, compensation, or contracts, you can reach out to the Guild’s staff to seek advice or support. From issues related to inclusion, to vetting a producer, to accessing online Member accounts, to registering for events, your Guild is here for you.
  • We encourage writers and creative professionals across the industry to be active, ask questions, and help shape what it means to be a part of the Writers Guild of America East.

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