Union workers at nonfiction production company McGee Media ratify first contract

Union workers at the nonfiction production company behind PBS Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. gave the green light to a first union contract with their employer.

Producers, researchers and archivists at McGee Media, unionized with the Writers Guild of America East, have ratified a recent tentative agreement reached by negotiators, the union announced Monday. Members of the bargaining unit voted unanimously to ratify the collective agreement on Thursday.

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In a statement, members of the negotiating committee said the contract “sets a new standard for the documentary television industry and reflects McGee Media’s progressive values.”

McGee Media founder Dyllan McGee said in a statement that the deal “reaffirms McGee Media’s commitment to providing industry-leading salaries and benefits to our valued employees.” McGee added: “We look forward to continuing our work together on meaningful, quality television.” »

The new contract, which applies to 25 employees, provides 3 percent annual wage increases for union members and health care contributions through the Entertainment Industry Flex Plan. The three-year agreement also provides 10 vacation days and a minimum of three sick days after two weeks of employment (employees who work on an annual basis will receive six days per year). According to the union, McGee Media is its first unionized nonfiction workplace to include paid parental leave in its contract.

Like many entertainment industry union contracts negotiated over the past two years, the agreement includes provisions covering the use of AI in the workplace: it requires advance notice and “discussion” if d AI are implemented in the company. 10 days’ notice for “black weeks” – periods when at least some production takes a break – is required, otherwise payment is due. The contract also includes language offering “the right to disconnect.” In other words, on days off and on business days after 8 p.m., staff members are not expected to respond to work messages unless advance notice is provided or communications are labeled as urgent.

McGee Media’s unionization is part of a new push by the East Coast-based writers union to further organize the reality TV and documentary production space. Over the past two years, the company has formed unions at Story Syndicate as well as McGee Media and launched union campaigns at A+E Factual Studios and RadicalMedia. In a statement, WGA East President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said, “All nonfiction television workers deserve union protection. »

November 12, 9:44 a.m. Updated with statement from Dylan McGee.

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