Writers Guild of America, East Ratifies First Contract with Onion Inc.
The creative staff at Onion Inc., which includes culture and humor sites like The Onion, The A/V Club, The Takeout, Onion Labs and Clickhole, has overwhelmingly ratified its first collective bargaining agreement with the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE).
The two-year contract covers 69 employees and includes annual pay increases, minimum pay grades, strong diversity and anti-harassment language, just cause, union security, editorial independence, intellectual property rights, and an end to permalancers through a provision that states that if someone contracts/fellows/apprentices for Onion Inc. for 12 consecutive months or 18 cumulative months in 24 months, the company must offer them a full-time role.
The Onion Inc. Union wrote, "We're elated to have reached a first union contract for the members at Onion Inc. In addition to the gains made in our contract, we experienced immediate workplace improvements while organizing, including increased interdepartmental communication and a gender pay parity analysis. As part of the WGAE, we have access to resources and the solidarity of thousands of union members across media and entertainment. We're proud to be part of a wave that's raising standards across the industry and we encourage everyone to organize their workplaces."
Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East, said, "This agreement demonstrates that when creative professionals win a voice on the job by unionizing with the WGAE, they can forge a productive relationship with management and achieve meaningful gains and protections."
In addition to Onion Inc., the WGAE represents approximately 1,500 creative professionals at digital news shops including Vox Media, VICE, HuffPost, The Intercept, Slate, Salon, ThinkProgress, Thrillist, The Dodo, Fast Company, Talking Points Memo, MTV News and Gizmodo Media Group.
The Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in film, television, news and new media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers' views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit wgaeast.org.
