Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Chair of the California Assembly Labor Committee, has agreed to oversee an impartial election for union representation on behalf of writers on six Nickelodeon animated series. The election will take place Wednesday, October 3, 2001 at Nickelodeon Studios, 231 W. Olive Ave., Burbank. The polling place will close at 12:00 noon. Immediately following the vote Sequoia Voting Systems will tabulate the results and Assemblyman Koretz will announce the results. The action came following a petition by the writers to be represented by the Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) and the refusal by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Inc. to recognize the Guild as the collective bargaining representative for the writers. Assemblyman Koretz issued a letter of invitation to Albie Hecht, president of Nickelodeon Film & TV Entertainment to participate in the election. The Writers Guild has agreed to abide by the results of the secret ballot election. Assemblyman Koretz has asked Nickelodeon to agree to do the same. In May 2001, the Guild petitioned the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for certification of representation. That petition is pending, however Nickelodeon has indicated its intent to engage in a protracted process to delay an NLRB election. Under federal labor law, an employer may agree to a fair, neutral and binding election administered by a third party or to voluntarily recognize a union without NLRB certification. As of October 2, 2001, Nickelodeon has not agreed to be bound by the vote on Wednesday.
Learn more about the goals and beginnings of the
Writers Guild of America's Animation Writers Caucus. 