WGA East Secures Union Recognition For Animation Writers At Fred Rogers Productions And Spiffy Pictures

The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) has won recognition at Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures. Writers on upcoming seasons of Alma’s Way, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Carl the Collector will now be working under a union contract.

The announcement is well timed, as the Trump administration has pulled all public funding for PBS, and the workers will need protections as the company moves into a more uncertain future.

WGA East recognition means writers at both studios will work under terms negotiated in December 2024 between the WGAE and PBS, the first agreement to formally cover PBS Kids’ animated programs. The contract applies to animated shows over five minutes in length produced for both television and digital platforms. Covered writers will now receive pension and health contributions, residuals for AVOD and SVOD reuse, and protections on top of script fees and weekly salaries.

Spiffy Pictures co-founder and executive producer Adam Rudman framed the move as a natural step:

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. We hope it paves the way for more companies to follow.

At Fred Rogers Productions, head writers Jill Cozza-Turner (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) and Jorge Aguirre (Alma’s Way) emphasized the company’s long-standing values:

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.

WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen stressed the broader significance of the recognition for animation writers:

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. All animation writers deserve union protections just like their colleagues in live action television.

The Writers Guild of America East, which represents more than 7,500 members across film, television, news, podcasts, and digital media, continues to push for expanded protection in animation and kids’ content, sectors long excluded from many standard union agreements.