Writers from “Frontline,” “American Experience,” “NOVA” and other PBS shows have averted a strike after reaching a deal with three affiliates.
“THIRTEEN, GBH and PBS SoCal are pleased to have reached an agreement with WGA East,” the stations said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our work to deliver trusted public media to our audiences.”
The Writers Guild of America’s bargaining unit, which represents 94 writers, voted to authorize a strike if a new contract was not reached by midnight Thursday. The writers were looking for more revenue from streaming, coverage for all new media productions and better wages, among other things.
The WGA also sought to expand its coverage to include animated series. Terms of the new agreement were not immediately disclosed.
The contract includes PBS Kids shows such as “Donkie Hodie” and “Odd Squad,” in addition to adult-oriented shows such as Ken Burns specials. The guild has been negotiating with its member companies – located in New York, Boston and Los Angeles – since the end of September.
“Writers Guild members at PBS would much rather end the week with a fair and equitable contract than with a strike,” Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of WGA East, said in a statement Monday. “But they are also willing to do whatever it takes to reach an agreement that reflects their working conditions and meets their very reasonable requirements.”
The new contract replaces a deal reached in 2019. The PBS writers were not involved in the five-month strike against major film and TV studios in 2023 because they do not work under that agreement.