EXCLUSIVE: Writers at PBS member stations are still hoping to secure a new union contract before the clock strikes midnight on Friday, and the 94-member bargaining unit strengthened its plea ahead of a potential strike with a pledge from more than 200 PBS animation writers who have agreed not to cross their potential picket line.
The WGA East negotiating committee delivered the pledge to PBS management during Wednesday’s talks, just one day before a strike could be called, Deadline has learned.
It is signed by 222 writers across more than 20 animated series that are not currently covered by the Writers Guild of America Public Television Freelance Agreement as a show of solidarity.
“By adding my name, I pledge to help the WGA win union protection for all PBS writers under the Public Television Freelance Agreement by withholding any and all writing services, including for animation, on any existing or new projects for all companies that are signatory to the Public Television Freelance Agreement…” the pledge reads.
Signatories of the pledge write for shows including Alma’s Way, Carl the Collector, Cyberchase, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Molly of Denali, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, and Work It Out Wombats!
Among the signees are Tim McKeon, co-creator of Odd Squad and creator of Helpsters, who said in a statement: “Having worked in kids’ TV as both producer and writer for 20 years, there is no reason that animation writers should continue to be treated as second class citizens compared to other writers at PBS. Correcting this injustice is long, long overdue… which is why I signed and totally support the strike pledge.”
PBS animation writers are not currently covered under this agreement, though that is one of the things the WGA is hoping to change with this new deal.
Among the priorities this bargaining cycle, which the WGA East says that they have been unable to secure thus far, include union protections for animation writers, compensation for writer-producers, WGA coverage of all made-for-new-media programs and residual payments for reuse on streaming services.
June Thiele, a writer on Molly of Denali, called attention to the “disparity in compensation and benefits between PBS writers who aren’t covered by WGA contracts and those who are covered” in their statement.
“Right now I’m in the unfortunate position where my wife and I are living without health insurance due to an inability to self-pay,” Thiele’s statement read. “Being able to join the WGA would be game-changing for us – not only to have benefits, but to have workplace protections and an ability to plan for our family’s future.”
Earlier this week, the writers at PBS member stations WGBH, THIRTEEN and PBS SoCal officially authorized a strike, should they be unable to reach a deal by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 21.
If a strike does go into effect, all WGA members would be prohibited from performing struck work for PBS and PBS member stations. The union will also be picketing at THIRTEEN in New York, WGBH in Boston and at PBS SoCal in Los Angeles.
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