Member Stories: BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

This week we're highlighting the need for
Bereavement Leave.

What is bereavement leave and why do we need it? We talked with fellow Guild members Nathan and Greg to find out:

When Cartoon Network designer Nathan lost his father, he needed time to grieve and settle family affairs. Instead, he discovered that his studio doesn’t offer bereavement days and that bereavement isn’t even mentioned in our contract. Nathan’s only option was to use his own sick days and vacation days to help his family – and hope that he himself didn’t fall ill or need a break for the rest of the year. This added stress to an already difficult time.

 Some studios prioritize employee welfare with added benefits that help members thrive.

Fox director Greg had a different experience. When his beloved grandmother passed away, he discovered that his studio offers five paid bereavement days. Benefits like these cost the studio very little, but have huge value to families in need. The discrepancies between individual member experiences, like Nathan's and Greg's, demonstrate a need for change. 

We need to negotiate a benefits package

that everyone can count on.

Read more Member Stories in THE PEGBOARD, pages 12-13.

#negotiations2018 #bereavement #animationisfamily

The Writers Guild (WGA) contract includes Family Leave

In 2017, the Writers Guild negotiated a new provision—Article 68 of the 2017 MBA—giving writers and writer-producers employed on the staff of an episodic series or serial the right to take up to eight weeks of leave to care for a new child. Guild members advocated for this leave as necessary to protect their writing careers at a point in their lives when they needed time with their families. The need to provide leave rights under the MBA was particularly acute because laws that protect workers in many other sectors of the economy frequently do not apply to writers due to the seasonal or intermittent nature of their employment.

The agreement between WGA and (AMPTP) sets a baseline for the benefits and rights extended to TV writers.

The Writers Guild added protections to their contract, and so can we! Animation writers deserve protections. We all deserve protections. #animationisfamily #negotiations2018

CLICK HERE for RESOURCES!

Active Guild members and families may qualify for the following resources:

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

1. MPIPHP - Motion Picture and Pension Health Plan
2. Live and Work Well - Mental health and personalized support services (Access code: mpiphp)

PARENTS & CAREGIVERS:

1. Information for California partially Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI)
2. Online forms for PFL and SDI

NURSING MOTHERS:

1. Lactation Accommodation - Private space for nursing/expressing milk at your workplace