WINNING BETTER PAY & BETTER WORKPLACES
Unionizing has lifted the pay and improved the benefits of employees at the nearly 2 dozen shops who have successfully organized with the Writers guild of America, East.




IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY
Given the constantly changing nature of the digital media industry, the Guild has to win recognition and bargain strong contracts, and they have to work to shape the overall industry. The gains won over the last 5 years have had a very meaningful impact on the working lives and sustainability of the careers for those who have unionized.

IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY
Given the constantly changing nature of the digital media industry, the Guild has to win recognition and bargain strong contracts, and they have to work to shape the overall industry. The gains won over the last 5 years have had a very meaningful impact on the working lives and sustainability of the careers for those who have unionized.



ORGANIZING MODEL
TRADITIONAL & NON-TRADITIONAL STRATEGIES
Since Gawker first organized in 2015, Guild campaigns have blended traditional organizing strategies like internal escalations, walkouts, and strike votes with digital organizing tools like Slack and Twitter, as well as leveraging their own platforms and connections within the digital media realm for increased coverage. Throughout the many campaigns, a form of more transparent and digitally present organizing has emerged, always grounded in a strong ownership by the members.

Hybrid of Traditional Tactics and New Tools
From coast to coast today, we’re demanding a #ContractNow.
It’s time, @voxmediainc. pic.twitter.com/4sa1dcwxs8
— Vox Media Union (@vox_union) June 6, 2019

Strong Empowered Organizing Committees
Today marks 2 WEEKS since we went public as the Future Union. An overwhelming majority of our 11 publications and 4 desks have democratically decided to come together as a unit. We call on the management @futureplc to recognize our union, and to do so without delay or division! pic.twitter.com/ZIKFKR1pvf
— Future Union (@futureusunion) March 7, 2019

Industrywide Movement and Community Building
Unions make for a better workplace. Just ask all these folks from @thrillistunion and @thedodounion enjoying some pizza together on #MayDay. pic.twitter.com/l1VvUHH39y
— Thrillist Union (@thrillistunion) May 1, 2019
BUILDING AN EMPOWERED COMMUNITY
Organizing has helped to create a stronger, more resilient community of colleagues in the shops that have gone through the unionization process. Forming a union has led to not only collective bargaining agreements and collective power, but also created a more inclusive and supportive community of colleagues.

WGAE DIGITAL MEDIA ORGANIZING TIMELINE
Over the last 5 years we have won 21 union union recognition campaigns and many amazing victories and contracts. All of the victories are part of one big industry wide campaign.
Timeline of WGAE Organizing Efforts in Digital Media
