The Writers Guild of America East is continuing its efforts to organize workers in the largely non-union nonfiction realm.
The union announced Monday that it is attempting to unionize around 150 workers at A+E Factual Studios, the documentary and nonfiction TV producer behind Dance Moms: A New Era, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, History’s Greatest Mysteries and Cold Case Files. Bloomberg has reported that writers and producers at the shingle that A+E Networks describes as its “IP creation powerhouse” are included in the drive.
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The WGA East says that organizing workers have asked the company for voluntary recognition and that a majority of workers have signed union cards. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to A+E Factual Studios for comment.
In a letter explaining their reasons for organizing, a group of organizers singles out “tight turnarounds and unrealistic expectations from network executives” that lead to long hours. It also says individual workers are “frequently assigned the work of two people due to network cost-cutting,” while executives allegedly receive “bonuses for coming in under budget.“
If they successfully unionize the studio, the organizers say they want to instill “fair pay” as well as annual wage increases, retention bonuses and a bonus if a first union contract is signed. The group says it wants to improve scheduling and staffing practices, institute long-term contracts and portable health insurance that workers can take from job to job, and encourage “reasonable workloads and deadlines.” The group additionally calls for clear paths for career advancement, greater transparency at work and “stronger anti-harassment and discrimination policies.”
In their letter, the organizers say their goal is to change an “unsustainable” system for nonfiction workers. “We invite A+E Factual Studios to continue its legacy as a leader in the nonfiction industry by recognizing our union and working together with us to achieve a fair, equitable union contract that sets the standard for what it means to work in nonfiction,” they continue.
The 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’ll Be Gone in the Dark and Harry & Meghan producer Story Syndicate and Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. producer McGee Media.