Members of the Writers Guild of America East have unanimously ratified their first union contract with “Pod Save America” production company Crooked Media.
Crooked Media’s 61-member negotiating team has reached a three-year agreement that includes an immediate 15% base pay increase, fair cause and succession, protections against generative AI, health care improvements and other benefits, according to the union.
On August 9, Crooked Media and the Writers Guild of America East reached an agreement after more than a year of negotiations, with the Writers Guild withdrawing its claims that the company had taken “unfair” actions. The decision came after the Writers Guild of America staged a one-day strike at Crooked Media on August 5 to protest the lack of progress toward an agreement.
Crooked Media was founded in 2017 by a trio of former Obama administration aides: Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor.
Under the new contract struck through WGA East, Crooked Media workers join a union that also represents employees from podcast production companies including Pineapple Street Studios, iHeart Podcast Network, Pushkin Industries, The Ringer, and Spotify Studios (formerly known as Gimlet and Parcast).
“Today, the members of the Twisted Media Workers Union ratified its first contract with unanimous consent and 100 percent participation,” representatives of the Twisted Media Workers Union said in a statement Thursday. “It’s one thing to talk about the power of unions, but it’s another thing to actually do the work. We’re thrilled to have secured a fair and progressive contract, and that these victories will set a new standard for the industry as a whole. If we inspire workers at another company to stand together, fight for each other, and insist on what they deserve, then it’s all worth it.”
“Our members at Crooked Media have won a contract that will set the standard for all podcasters,” added Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of the Writers Guild of America Middle East. “We are proud to see our members secure a hard-fought collective bargaining agreement that will support them in the essential work they do — especially in the midst of a presidential election cycle.”
