A Writers Guild of America East-backed union at the nonfiction entertainment division of RadicalMedia has been voluntarily recognized by management.
That’s according to the WGA East, which says that a bargaining unit of 65 staffers in production and postproduction roles was recognized by the Summer of Soul producer on Dec. 6. The union is aiming to start negotiations over a first contract in the new year. RadicalMedia did not respond to a request for comment.
“We are pleased to share that RadicalMedia voluntarily recognized our union,” the union’s organizing committee said in a statement posted to Instagram. “We look forward to negotiating a fair contract that addresses our concerns and lives up to the values espoused in the Nonfiction content produced by this progressive production company.”
The WGA East went public with its organizing drive at the company on Oct. 23, saying that an “overwhelming majority” of workers in the proposed bargaining unit had signed union cards. In an open letter, organizers stated that they wanted to negotiate pay, benefits, working conditions, job security and professional advancement with the company.
The unionization attempt “should not be seen as an expression of dissatisfaction, but a testament to our shared vision for a brighter future both at RadicalMedia and across the genre of nonfiction film and television,” the workers stated as they called for voluntary recognition.
RadicalMedia’s nonfiction entertainment arm has produced Joe Berlinger’s Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey and Justin Simien’s Hollywood Black as well as Lisa Bryant’s Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich and Liz Garbus’ What Happened, Miss Simone?
