![Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood [Fred Rogers Productions]](https://www.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Daniel-Tigers-Neighborhood-3.jpg "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood")
The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) announced Friday that children’s entertainment studios Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures have both recognized the organization for collective bargaining for animation writers working on their public television programs. The move achieves unionization for writers on future seasons of PBS KIDS favorites Alma’s Way, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Carl the Collector.
“PBS KIDS writers have been a bedrock in educating children around the world and we are glad they can work under a Writers Guild contract that provides them with fair pay, pension and health coverage and residuals,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of WGA East. “All animation writers deserve union protections just like their colleagues in live-action television.”
Writers at both production companies will work under the terms reached between WGA East and PBS in December 2024, their first to include the writing done for PBS KIDS’ animated programs. The agreement covers writing work for animated programs over five minutes in length made for TV and new media, with writers receiving pension and health contributions on top of script fees and weekly salaries. Animation writers will also receive residuals for AVOD and SVOD reuse.
“Every writer on all of our series over the years has played an integral role in each show’s success, so this was a no-brainer for Spiffy,” said Adam Rudman, Co-Founder & Executive Producer at Spiffy Pictures. “We hope it paves the way for more companies to follow.”
Jill Cozza-Turner, head writer for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Jorge Aguirre, head writer for Alma’s Way, commented, “We are extremely proud to be working with Fred Rogers Productions. They carry on the legacy of Fred by being true allies in supporting working writers. We’re grateful to partner with FRP and their mission to tell impactful stories that promote children’s curiosity and make it fun for them to learn and grow.”
[Source: WGA East]
