The National Writers Union (NWU)

is the trade union for freelance writers of all genres. We are committed to improving the economic and working conditions of freelance writers through the collective strength of our members. We offer contract advice and grievance resolution, member education, job banks, networking, social and professional events, and much more.

The NWU is affiliated with the United Automobile Workers (UAW) and through them with the AFL-CIO. Founded in 1983, the NWU has locals, organizing committees and genre divisions throughout the country. Our thousands of members include journalists, book authors, poets, copywriters, academic authors, cartoonists, and technical and business writers.

What we've done for you lately...

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Online Rights Case

The NWU took on major publishing houses in New York Times v. Tasini, a ground-breaking lawsuit that in 2001 established writers' legal right to sell articles republished in electronic media. That means writers must give permission and receive additional compensation for such republished articles.

Grievance Resolution

The NWU has a network of member-writers who serve as grievance officers to help other members with specific problems. NWU grievance officers have recovered more than $1 million from publishers through individual and groups grievances and have helped members with hundreds of non-monetary grievances.

Contract Advice

Our nationwide network of contract advisors assists members in understanding and negotiating writing contracts with publishers, agents or work-for-hire clients. Whether your contract concerns a book, article, research report, short story, computer manual or screenplay—and whether it's for a print or an online publication—our contract advisors can help ensure that you get a fair deal.

Securing the Internet

The NWU is the leading organization representing the rights and interests of creators in the evolving electronic market place and rapidly changing communications media.

Industry Campaigns

Our BizTech (Business and Technical), Book, and Journalism campaigns fight to protect writers rights, improve working conditions and increase members income in these three genre divisions. For example, the Book Division has initiated a strategic organizing campaign, and an offshoring campaign to defend the interests of BizTech writers is currently underway.

Setting Industry Standards

NWU members have developed and advocated basic standards for fair practice in publishing, telecommunications and other industries that employ writers. Through standard contracts, surveys and studies, books, mass media and the Internet, the NWU promotes justice for writers.

Government Advocacy

The NWU has testified before the U.S. Senate and other government agencies on copyright reform for all creators and represented writers on government advisory committees that deal with intellectual property issues. In addition, we are sponsoring legislation in Congress for an exemption for all types of creators to anti-trust laws.

Support for Free Expression

Through the NWU Political Issues Committee (PIC) the NWU defends authors' constitutional rights to free expression. The NWU joined the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act and we have protested state and corporate censorship in many specific cases around the country. The new Community Action Program Committee (CAP) was active during the recent national election and looks forward to promoting writers' rights in a national agenda.