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Subject:Re: Should we unionize? From:Sue Ellen Adkins <sea -at- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 5 Jul 1995 22:31:23 -0700
> Should we have a Technical Writer's Union?
> Perhaps if there were a technical writer's union, the Union
> could establish rates and help with medical, dental, and benefits
> for those technical writers who are contract writers.
There is a writers union. I requested information from the National Writers
Union; some of it is pasted below. For more information and an application,
send mail to: nwu-info -at- netcom -dot- com
No subject, no text necessary.
Normal disclaimers--I am not a member and do not gain financially from posting
this message.
Sue Ellen Adkins sea -at- netcom -dot- com
The National Writers Union is a trade
union for freelancers: tech writers,
journalists, book authors, poets,
novelists, ghostwriters, corporate
writers -- professionals in all
genres. We have about 4000 members.
NWU grievance officers have recovered
close to $1,000,000 for our members.
Our Book and Journalism Campaigns
have databases for agents and jobs.
Our standard contracts -- the free-
lancers' equivalent to collective
bargaining -- are changing entrenched
industry practices that have undermined
writers' rights. Our New Technologies
Campaign aims to halt digital piracy
and define ethical practices while
the media are still young.
Membership in the NWU is open to all
qualified writers, and no one shall be
barred or prejudiced within the union
on account of age, disability, gender,
ideology, literary genre, nationality,
race, religion, or sexual orientation.
You are eligible for membership if you
have published a book, a play, three
articles, five poems, a short story,
or an equal amount of newsletter,
publicity, technical, commercial,
government, or institution copy. You
are also eligible for membership if
you have written an equal amount of
unpublished material and are actively
writing and attempting to publish
your work.
