RadicalMedia Ratifies First Union Deal

About 50 nonfiction employees at RadicalMedia ratified their first union contract on Friday. The bargaining unit represents staff involved in archival, story, field, and postproduction work. The Writers Guild of America East (WGA East) negotiated the terms.

The group voted to approve the five-year agreement by October 9, with 95% of voting members in favor. The union’s council gave final approval on Thursday. This contract marks the first collective bargaining agreement for the company’s nonfiction division.

The new deal sets baseline wage rates that will increase by 2% annually over the contract term. It also secures daily employer contributions to health insurance for all covered employees. Workers gain access to the Entertainment Industry Flex Plan, which addresses coverage gaps common in freelance roles.

Specific protections address the unique risks of nonfiction production. The contract requires RadicalMedia to pay staff if a show is canceled with short notice. Standard provisions are included, such as paid holidays, bereavement leave, minimum rest periods, and comp days.

RadicalMedia is led by Justin Barocas. The production company has created titles including This Is a Gardening Show and Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich. It also produced the Academy Award winner Summer of Soul and the Conversations with a Killer franchise. Other credits include Ladies and Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare, and Hollywood Black.

Michael Rauch, WGA East vice president for film, television, and streaming, stated that the agreement builds on protections nonfiction workers have lacked. He noted that the deal includes rest periods, payment for short-notice pauses, paid holidays, and health care contributions. Rauch said RadicalMedia joins a growing list of organized nonfiction shops.

The WGA East has actively organized nonfiction production companies recently. It currently holds bargaining units at Jigsaw Productions, Story Syndicate, Vox Entertainment, McGee Media, Sharp, Lucky 8, A+E Factual Studios, and NBC News Service. The union’s bargaining committee called this deal a milestone in expanding organization within the sector. They highlighted the importance of winning Flex Plan participation for freelance workers. RadicalMedia has been contacted for comment.