Writers Guild of America East members at Pineapple Street Studios ratified its first collective bargaining agreement, gaining a three-year contract with protections against artificial intelligence and increased salary minimums.
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The 22 members of the bargaining unit at the Pineapple Street Studios includes producers, editors, engineers and other staff who work on such podcasts as Classy, Wondery’s Ghost Story, Paper Kite’s Million Dollar Advice and HBO’s Succession Podcast.
The details of the new contract include a minimum starting salary of $72,000, effective upon ratification, and annual minimum salary increases of 3 percent in the first year of the contract, and 2 percent in the second and third years of the contract. Generative AI will not be allowed to be used to perform bargaining unit work without the express consent of the union.
Additional provisions include that the next employer recognize and bargain with the union in the event of a sale, improved time off and severance provisions, and the elimination of noncompetes and NDAs for harassment.
The unit also codified the current flexible remote work policy and added a provision that edits tests and other production work during the job interview process will be paid “at no less than the minimum rate for that role.”
The group announced its intent to organize in October 2022, citing Audacy’s 2019 acquisition of Pineapple Street Studios as a turning point.
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In January, Audacy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and came up with a plan to emerge from it, including laying off 25 percent of its staff at Pineapple Street at the end of January and later reorganizing the podcast division under new branding.
“After nearly a year and a half of negotiations, we are thrilled to have a contract that sets industry standards in both pay and policy,” said Pineapple Street Union member Emerald O’Brien. “While this contract is exceptional in many ways, we feel strongly that, in an industry dominated by massive corporations, no podcast worker should be receiving less than what we’ve been able to agree to here.”
“This contract will make Pineapple a better and more equitable place to work for all of its employees, and we could not have won this contract without the steadfast solidarity of our entire unit,” said Pineapple Street Union member Ben Goldberg.
“Our members at Pineapple Street Studios held strong for critical union protections like just cause, successorship, and a voice in the implementation of AI,” said WGAE president Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. “We’re proud to see these hardworking podcast workers secure a strong first contract that will help them build stable careers.”
Workers at Crooked Media, the iHeart Podcast Network, Pushkin Industries, The Ringer and Spotify Studios have also unionized with WGAE.
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