Sesame Workshop Writers Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract

New York, NY – Members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) at Sesame Workshop and management reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. 

The 35-member bargaining unit will vote to ratify the agreement in the coming days.

The writers won historic jurisdiction and minimum rates for animation and new media programs produced by Sesame, protections against artificial intelligence, paid parental leave benefits and substantial improvements to new media residuals.

The WGA Sesame Workshop Negotiating Committee said, “ We are so proud to work for an organization that values its writers, and we believe this new contract will positively impact writers throughout the children’s media landscape. “S” truly is for Solidarity. We are glad to have a contract in place that allows Sesame to do what it does best - lead.”

WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said, “Sesame Workshop writers won a new agreement that recognizes the value of the incredible work they do to educate and enlighten children around the world. This contract could not have been achieved without the solidarity and fortitude shown by the entire bargaining unit throughout the negotiations. Workers win when they stand together.”

The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) are labor unions of writers working in motion pictures, television, cable, digital media and broadcast news. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit www.wgaeast.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America West, visit www.wga.org.