Writers Guild of America

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the generic term of two different American labor unions, representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media: Although both organizations operate independently, they perform some common activities, including negotiating contracts and launching strike actions in unison.

In 1921, the Dramatists Guild of America split off as a separate group to represent writers of stage and, later, radio drama.

That same year, the Screen Writers Guild (SWG) was formed to represent film screenwriters, but operated primarily more as a social organization until 1933 when the group affiliated with the AG and took on a more active role in labor negotiations.

In recognition of the growing complexity of representing members in many different fields of entertainment writing, the unions reorganized in 1954.

[1][2][3] Although the WGAE and the WGAW run independently of each other, they jointly perform some regular activities, including the following: The WGAE and WGAW negotiate contracts in unison as well as launch strike actions simultaneously.