Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures writers organize under WGA-East
Writers for Fred Rogers Productions and Spiffy Pictures, two independent companies that produce children’s programs for public television, have received union representation under the Writers Guild of America East.
Fred Rogers Productions, a nonprofit, co-produces the PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way. Spiffy Pictures co-produces Nature Cat, Donkey Hodie and Carl The Collector.
Writers at both companies will work under the most recent WGA-PBS contract, ratified in December 2024. It is the first WGA-PBS agreement to include the writers of animated PBS Kids programs.
The agreement covers animated programs longer than five minutes that are produced for television and new media. Writers will receive pension and health contributions, script fees and weekly salaries, according to a Friday news release. Animation writers will also receive residuals for advertising-based video on demand and streaming video on demand.
“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 and EP of Spiffy Pictures, in the news release. “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, jointly said, “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.”
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of WGA-East, said, “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.”
Your phto is of the wrong Writers Guild. Photo is WGA West, not East. There is a difference