(NEW YORK CITY) – After a nationwide organizing effort involving two separate Unions, Workers have won Union recognition at the Brooklyn-based Documentary Powerhouse Story Syndicate.

Story Syndicate, founded in 2019 and led by Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, produces high-profile, award-winning non-fiction features and series, including projects such as “Harry and Meghan” (Netflix), the “Unknown” series (Netflix), “Fauci,” “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (HBO), and “Last Call” (HBO).

In a remarkable example of inter-Union Solidarity, Organizers from the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and the Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) worked in coordination to Unionize the Workers.

In addition to the Editorial Employees who will be represented by MPEG, Employees working as Producers will be represented by WGAE.

The American Arbitration Association independently verified that each Union had the support of Story Syndicate Employees in its jurisdiction and the company agreed to recognize the Unions on that basis.

With this win, the Unions notched another milestone in ongoing efforts to bring about more documentary and non-fiction work under Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Historically, most documentary production companies have been Non-Union and thus their Workers have not enjoyed the same workplace benefits and protections as their counterparts in the Entertainment Industry’s heavily-Unionized Scripted Sector.

But especially in the streaming age, documentaries have become an increasingly key part of media companies’ business models, spurring Non-Fiction Workers and Unions to organize a sector of the industry that had often fallen outside Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Story Syndicate now joins a select list of Documentary Houses where editors enjoy Union representation, which includes the companies of such well-known creators as Errol Morris, Ken Burns and Michael Moore.

Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East, said: “The Bargaining Unit Employees at Story Syndicate have created hit non-fiction series for Netflix, HBO and many other networks, and together we will negotiate a contract that addresses their real concerns and aspirations.  They join many other Non-Fiction TV Creators who recognize the power of collective bargaining and the WGAE to improve standards so people can build sustainable careers doing the work they care about.”

“Documentaries give viewers a unique window into our world, offering insights that no other form of programming can replicate,” said Alan Heim, the President of the Editors Guild. “The documentary editing room is where all kinds of disparate footage find their shape as story.  The Artists who shape these projects deserve all the recognition, respect and workplace protections that their scripted counterparts have long fought for.  That’s why we are thrilled to welcome the talented Story Syndicate crews into our union family.”

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