Writers Guild of America

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries in the United States. As of 2003, it claims more than 11,000 members nationwide.

Related Topics:
Collective bargaining - Labor union - Television - 2003

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In addition to establishing minimum employment standards for its members, the WGA is the final arbiter of screenwriting credit for film and television programs made under its jurisdiction. Indeed, the issue of proper credit was one of the driving forces behind the creation in 1921 of the Screen Writers Guild, the WGA's predecessor organization. Today, the Guild also provides health and pension benefits for its members, issues the Writers' Guild of America Awards, and runs a script-registration service to help writers prove authorship of their works.

Related Topics:
Screenwriting credit - Writers' Guild of America Award

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For historical reasons, the WGA is divided into two separate unions, the Writers Guild of America, east and Writers Guild of America, west. Generally, a writer who lives east of the Mississippi River belongs to the east branch, while a writer who lives to the west of it belongs to the west. However, under the terms of the affiliation agreement between the two Guilds, any writer who works in theatrical films is automatically a member of the Writers' Guild of America, west no matter where he or she lives. The two unions are currently engaged in a non-binding mediation process to determine the disposition of the dues of members who live in the east but who derive all or part of their income from film work.

Related Topics:
Writers Guild of America, east - Writers Guild of America, west - Mississippi River - Writers' Guild of America, west

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The current president of the WGAW is Patrick Verrone. The current vice-president of the WGAW is David N. Weiss.

Related Topics:
Patrick Verrone - David N. Weiss

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