Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at iHeart Podcast Network ratified their first collective bargaining agreement, covering the 100-member bargaining unit. The three-year contract was overwhelmingly ratified. Details of the contract include: a minimum starting salary of $63,000 for unit members in New York or Los Angeles and $58,000 for members in other locations; annual minimum salary increases of 3% in the first year of the contract, and 2% in the second and third year of the contract; time-and-a-half for work assigned on a holiday; severance of up to 16 weeks; improved bereavement paid time off; the right to bargain over any implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace; overtime protections and comp time for those who don’t receive overtime; greater transparency on show metrics and spending; and other gains.
The iHeart Podcast Network’s bargaining unit wrote: “We are incredibly proud to announce the ratification of our first contract. After two long years of bargaining we've landed on a contract that we feel greatly improves our working and every day lives. We are excited to begin life under a union contract and to continue to advocate for our entire unit.”