Lemonada Media Voluntarily Recognizes Creative Staff’s Unionization Under WGAE

Lemonada Media, the podcast network responsible for titles such as Wiser Than Me With Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Fail Better with David Duchovny, has voluntarily recognized its creative staff’s unionization under the Writers Guild of America East.

Producers and engineers at Lemonada will now be represented by the WGAE, after the majority of the bargaining unit signed cards in favor of the union. The WGAE is expected to begin bargaining with Lemonada on the staff’s first contract soon.

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“We’re excited to welcome the creative staff at Lemonada Media to the Writers Guild of America East,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the WGAE. “Lemonada joins the Guild as part of our ongoing unionization efforts to raise industry standards for the dedicated people who want to make a career working in podcasts. We look forward to securing workplace protections and benefits for the unit.”

In a letter titled “Why We’re Organizing,” the creative staff explained “key areas of improvement that we believe will boost morale and create a more egalitarian work environment.”

Those include standardized severance, diversity initiatives, protections if the company is acquired, and more. The staff are also seeking “clear and fair disciplinary, termination and resignation policies.”

“Lemonada is pleased to have reached agreement on voluntary recognition with the WGAE,” a Lemonada spokesperson said in a statement. “Lemonada looks forward to participating collaboratively in the collective bargaining negotiations. The company is committed to continuing to foster an environment where their stellar production team thrives and makes best-in-class, mission-driven content for listeners.”

The WGAE is responsible for several other podcast networks, representing Crooked Media, the iHeart Podcast Network, Pineapple Street Studios, Pushkin Industries, The Ringer and Spotify Studios.

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