(NEW YORK CITY) – Members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) at Sesame Workshop have voted - unanimously, with 100% participation, to authorize a Strike if management does not agree to a fair new Collective Bargaining Agreement before their current contract expires today (April 19th).

The 35-member Bargaining Unit began negotiations on February 13th, but have so far been unable to reach a deal.

The Writers are demanding industry standard annual raises, improvements to residuals, and Union coverage for Sesame Workshop’s popular animation and Social Media segments. 

If management fails to reach a deal with their Unionized Writers, picketing would begin on Wednesday (April 24th), outside Sesame Workshop’s Offices in New York City. 

The WGA Sesame Workshop Negotiating Committee said: “The Writers that Sesame Workshop hires are deeply committed to the work that we do.  Like the Workshop itself, we are mission-driven and child-focused, and we work hard at telling stories that contribute to the Workshop’s curricula inspired by heart, curiosity, community, kindness, diversity, equity and inclusion.  We are committed to working with Sesame Workshop to codify a fair contract for writers that embodies these values, and which allows the Workshop to continue to attract top-level talent who can artfully create stories that successfully balance entertainment, playfulness and joy with education and enrichment.  Our demands would be extremely meaningful for the affected Writers, particularly those in animation who are currently being excluded from basic Union benefits and protections like pension and health care.  We hope for a speedy and amicable resolution to these negotiations so that we can continue to do the work of helping the next generation grow smarter, stronger and kinder.”

WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said: “No one wants to see a picket line on Sesame Street.  Millions of parents and families around the world are going to have a lot of questions. They might ask why the bosses at Sesame Workshop are ignoring their company’s own messages of kindness and fairness.”

Both the WGAE and WGAW represent Writers working in motion pictures, television, cable, digital media and broadcast news.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Sesame Workshop Writers Authorize Strike | Press Room (wgaeast.org)