Why We’re Fundraising:

On January 29, 2026, members of the Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU), a chapter of the Pacific Northwest Staff Union, voted by an overwhelming margin to authorize a strike in protest of WGAW management’s unfair labor practices.

Across our 21 departments and the Writers Guild Theater, 110+ of us work around the clock to plan and run member events, track and process residuals, enforce writers’ protections against studios, manage our many databases, and much more. Our life’s work is dedicated to improving working conditions for writers, yet most of us are paid low-income wages and live paycheck to paycheck.

Since we formed our union in April 2025, management has retaliated against us in the workplace and engaged dismissively at the bargaining table, leaving us with a contract proposal that fails to address key concerns of the WGSU. Strikes aren't easy, but the status quo is untenable. To prepare for a ULP strike, we are asking our community for support through donations to this Strike Fund, which will help our members manage financial hardship as we go without pay while out on the picket line.

How The Fundraiser’s Proceeds Are Being Governed and Distributed:

This fundraiser is being run by the leadership of the Pacific Northwest Staff Union (find us at pnwsu.org).

Donations will be distributed to those workers who are directly financially impacted by this event and who are actively participating in this effort to settle a contract. We have a committee of PNWSU leadership (including those impacted directly at the Writer’s Guild Staff Union [WGSU[) who will be jointly monitoring the total available donated funds and ensuring that they are fairly distributed. We have a policy in our bylaws that governs this process.

The community that we are asking to donate to this cause are those who know people impacted and who will have seen shared information about this event and its impacts, those who care about their broader cause and why they are pushing for better working conditions, fellow PNWSU union members across the country, and those that have seen the numerous news articles about this event who are willing to donate to keep people afloat while they push for a better outcome in their contract.

What Happens to Remaining Funds:

If the strike ends before all remaining donations are exhausted, then remaining funds will be held for future strike and hardship funds.

We sincerely thank you for your support and solidarity.