Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at iHeart Podcast Network ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The 100-member bargaining unit overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract that came after more than two years of negotiations. Included in the CBA are: A minimum starting salary of
$63,000 for unit members in New York or Los Angeles and $58,000 for members in other locations; Annual minimum salary increases of 3% in the first year of the contract, and 2% in the second and third year of the contract; Continued 401(k) match, after the company cut the match for non-union employees; and the right to bargain over any implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. In a statement, the iHeart Podcast Network’s bargaining unit states, “We are incredibly proud to announce the ratification of our first contract. After two long years of bargaining, we’ve landed on a contract that we feel greatly improves our working and everyday lives. We are excited to begin life under a union contract and to continue to advocate for our entire unit.”
