The Writers Guild of America East continues its efforts to organize workers in the largely non-union nonfiction sector.
The union announced Monday that it is attempting to unionize about 150 workers at A+E Factual Studios, the documentary and nonfiction television producer behind Dancing Moms: A New Era, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, The Greatest Mysteries in History AND Unsolved Case FilesBloomberg reported that creators and producers of the brand that A+E Networks describes as its “IP creation powerhouse” are included in the initiative.
WGA East says organized labor has asked the company for voluntary recognition and that most workers have signed union cards. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to A+E Factual Studios for comment.
In a letter explaining the reasons for their organization, a group of organizers emphasize “tight shifts and unrealistic expectations from network executives” that lead to long hours. It also claims that individual workers are “often assigned the work of two people due to network cost cutting” while executives allegedly receive “bonuses for staying under budget.”
If they successfully unionize the studio, organizers say they want to instill “fair pay” and annual pay raises, retention bonuses, and a bonus if a first union contract is signed. The group says it wants to improve scheduling and hiring practices, institute long-term contracts and portable health insurance that workers can take between jobs, and encourage “reasonable workloads and deadlines.” The group also wants clear paths to advancement, more transparency at work, and “stronger policies against harassment and discrimination.”
In their letter, the organizers say their goal is to change an “unsustainable” system for nonfiction workers. “We call on A+E Factual Studios to continue its legacy of leadership in the nonfiction industry by recognizing our union and working with us to reach a fair and just union contract that sets the standard for what it means to work in nonfiction,” they continue.
WGA East already represents nonfiction workers involved in documentary and reality television production at Vox Entertainment, Jigsaw Productions, NBC News Service, Sharp, Lion and BSTV Entertainment. Since 2023, the union has organized I will have gone into the dark AND Harry and Meghan producer Story Syndicate and Discovering Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. producer McGee Media.