Writers at PBS may be on strike soon, if a new agreement is not reached between the company and the Writers Guild of America within the week.
WGA East revealed Monday that the 94-member bargaining unit of writers at PBS member stations WGBH, THIRTEEN and PBS SoCal has officially authorized the moratorium, which will go into effect when the current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 21.
According to the union, the voter turnout was 83%, while 100% of voters preferred to allow the strike. The WGA East Board and WGA West Board of Directors unanimously approved the vote.
Among the priorities in this bargaining cycle, which WGA East says they have not yet been able to secure, include union protections for animation writers, compensation for writers and producers, WGA coverage of all new media programming and residual payments. For reuse on streaming services.
“PBS Writers Guild members would rather end the week with a fair and equitable contract than go on strike,” WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said in a statement. “But they are also willing to do what is necessary to reach an agreement that reflects their working conditions and meets their very reasonable demands.”
In addition to the eye-catching writers, their colleagues across 20 animated series including Alma Road, Carl Complex, Cyberchase, Daniel Tiger, Molly of Denali, Pinkalicious and Petrific neighborhoods, and Work out wombats! They pledged not to cross the picket line if a strike was called.
If the strike goes into effect, all WGA members will be banned from striking work for the PBS and PBS member stations. The union will also picket THIRTEEN in New York, WGBH in Boston and at PBS SoCal in Los Angeles.
