The Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG)—Local 700 of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)—and Writers
Guild of America West (WGAW) are teaming up to support Theorist Media workers secure fair representation and a powerful union contract.
Workers at the digital media production company edit, write and produce multiple YouTube shows, create thumbnails and handle sound design. Their organizing effort reflects how much short form content has evolved in the entertainment industry—YouTube recently became the most-watched video platform on TV.
“All workers have a right to union representation,” said WGAW President Michele Mulroney. “The creatives behind Theorist programming are bringing audiences, advertisers, and profits for Theorist — it’s time for the good union jobs to follow.”
“With all its successful enthusiast sites, Theorist has proven that a huge audience exists for professionally produced content on YouTube,” said Alan Heim, ACE, president of MPEG. “Now it’s time for management to prove that they will do the right thing by the hard-working craftspeople who make all that great content possible.”
“For more than 20 years, we’ve watched terrific creators and their content shape YouTube into one of the most powerful platforms on Earth,” said Nicole Cepeda, who works in graphics at Theorist. “By unionizing, our goal is to help raise professional standards and bring them in line with the broader entertainment industry. The work we do is real, and it deserves real protection.”
AFL-CIO Daily Brief