Records of the National Writers Union

The National Writers Union (NWU) was founded on November 19, 1981 after a meeting of two conferences of freelance writers organized by “The Nation” magazine in 1980- one in New York and the other in San Francisco. According to NWU’s mission statement “The purpose of the NWU, Local 1981 shall be to promote and protect the rights, interests, and economic advancement of members; to organize writers to improve professional working conditions through collective bargaining action; and to provide professional services to members. The NWU, Local 1981 commits itself to representing the interests of the full range of writers in the US. in all genres, media and formats. These include writers of diverse cultures, ethnicities, politics, religions and racial identities; writers of all ages and all sexual/gender orientations; writers with disabilities; and writers at all levels of economic and commercial success.” (“Mission”, NWU) As of 2020, NWU has 13 local chapters; and three genre-based divisions- book, journalism, and BizTech as well as a grievance and contract division (GCD). There are approximately 1,300 members of the NWU who are journalists, book authors, technical and business writers, poets, playwrights, editors, fiction writers, and other mediums. Since 1992, NWU has been affiliated with the United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). Along with members, the NWU has three other organizational structures that govern and carry out the work of the organization:

“Delegate Assembly:

The legislative and policy-making body of the NWU is the biennial Delegate Assembly, consisting of the National Officers and delegates elected from the Chapters. The Delegate Assembly meets as a body once in two years, but may be called upon to make decisions between biennial meetings.

National Executive Board:

The National Executive Board meets in the year between Delegate Assemblies. The NEB consists of the National Officers and the Chairs of each Chapter. The NEB has the authority to make decisions binding on the Union.

National Executive Council:

The National Executive Council consists of the following National Officers, elected every three years: President, 3 Vice Presidents, Financial Secretary/Treasurer, Recording Secretary, 3 Trustees, Sergeant at Arms, Guide. The NEC meets monthly by conference call, or more frequently if necessary, to carry on the work of the NWU between meetings of the DA and NEB. The calls are open to all members, but only NEC members may vote.” (“Governance/Committees”, NWU)

Sources:

Nwuatlarge. “How Is a Writers' Union Different from a Writers' Association?” World Organization of Writers, 22 July 2014, worldorganizationofwriters.org/2014/07/22/how-is-a-writers-union-different-from-a-writers-association/.

“Home.” NWU, nwu.org/about/governance-committees/.

“Home.” NWU, nwu.org/about/mission/.