MSNBC Union Ratifies First Collective Bargaining Agreement

Patrick Hipes
·2-min read

The Writers Guild of America East said Tuesday that its members at MSNBC have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.

The three-year deal includes a minimum 3% pay increase every year for the next three years, and improvements to policies regarding extra pay for overwork, overnight work, and out-of-title work.

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The cable news network’s newsroom unionized with the WGA East in 2021 and counts nearly 300 members in its bargaining unit including news writers, producers, booking producers, fact checkers and planners on all MSNBC programs.

“We are excited to say that we have ratified our first contract after 2 years of negotiations,” MSNBC Union said today in a release announcing the news. “We are proud to share that this contract addresses priority issues from our members like continued remote work flexibility, additional payment for performing extra work, night shift payment, and the right to turn down standby requests. The contract provides meaningful economic gains for our members.”

Per the union, additional contract highlights include:

  • Fair minimum salaries for all titles, with significant pay increases for all PAs and most APs;

  • A guaranteed minimum 3% pay increase on March 1 of every year for the next three years;

  • All employees will receive a bonus upon ratification amounting to 2% of their current annual salaries;

  • The company’s current policy of expecting employees to work in the office three days a week has been codified. If the company intends to change that, it must provide 75 days’ notice and bargain with the Guild. If the Guild is not satisfied with the outcome, it has the right to strike;

  • The 6-week on-call rotation schedule has been eliminated, and employees have the right to decline on-call assignments;

  • Employees who work on holidays get a comp day, which will be paid if not used in 6 months;

  • Guaranteed minimum severance for layoffs (2 weeks for every year of service with a minimum of 8 weeks);

  • Union Security;

  • Just Cause.

The WGA East also reps newsrooms at ABC News, Audacy, CBS News, CBSN and Thirteen Productions (Thirteen/WNET) among others.

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