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Writers Guild of America East Organizes Walkout at Crooked Media Amid Contract Negotiations
The Writers Guild of America East is increasing its efforts to obtain favorable contract terms from Crooked Media, well-known for its liberal podcast programming. A planned one-day walkout is scheduled for Monday as unionized employees seek to leverage their collective power ahead of crucial negotiations.
In a significant display of solidarity, over 95% of the 61 employees represented in the bargaining unit have pledged their participation in the walkout, during which they will distribute leaflets to the public.
The walkout pledge underscores the workers’ commitment: “We, the undersigned members of the Crooked Media Workers Union, stand united in our pursuit of a collective bargaining agreement that adequately reflects the current economic landscape, the rapidly-evolving nature of the media and news industry, and the critical concerns of our members.”
The union’s demands not only stress the importance of fair compensation and annual cost-of-living adjustments but also the necessity for protections against layoffs. These priorities aim to align the company’s policies with its stated progressive values. “We will not accept any collective bargaining agreement without these guarantees,” the pledge emphasizes.
This action follows a revealing Bloomberg report that detailed significant internal tensions within Crooked Media, a company established by former aides to President Obama: Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, and Jon Lovett. The report highlighted employee dissatisfaction regarding promotional opportunities, contentious debates about how to address the Israel-Hamas conflict in podcasts, and substantial financial gains for the founders following a distribution agreement with Sirius XM, all within the context of a challenging period for the podcast industry.
While initial reactions from some employees on social media varied, the labor actions taken by the bargaining unit have led to meaningful developments in contract discussions. Recent communications from union negotiators, shared with TheWrap, indicate that Crooked Media has proposed notable salary minimum increases in response to the momentum generated by the walkout pledge.
Despite these advancements, the bargaining unit continues to advocate for adjustments that keep pace with inflation, job security measures, and restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence for work typically covered by union contracts. Furthermore, there are ongoing efforts to incorporate six employees previously excluded from the union following allegations of unfair labor practices.
In a statement reflecting their commitment to both their work and broader progressive values, the bargaining unit expressed: “We care deeply about our work at Crooked and the larger progressive mission. It is because of those values that we are steadfast in demanding our fair share with a contract that reflects an equitable workplace.” They urged the founders to demonstrate their belief in the importance of organization by actively engaging in the bargaining process: “We look forward to their active involvement in ensuring a contract that adequately recognizes our unit’s essential work by August 8th.”
The timing of the walkout is particularly notable, occurring amidst heightened political activity, including the anticipated announcement of Kamala Harris’s running mate for the Democratic presidential nomination, which could potentially coincide with the union action.
TheWrap has reached out to Crooked Media for further comments regarding the ongoing negotiations and the walkout.
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