Join us at our next chapter meeting, September 10, 2023 at 4 PM Pacific Time
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Oregon Chapter
NWU: All Writers. All Genres. All Media.
We are the Oregon Chapter of the National Writers Union (NWU)
Our Mission
The mission of the NWU is to promote and protect the rights, interests, and economic advancement of our members. The union represents the interests of the full range of writers and digital media workers in the United States, in all genres, media and formats, and at all levels of economic and commercial success.
Who We Represent
NWU represents academic writers, copywriters, book authors, technical writers, journalists, novelists, playwrights, self-published authors, translators and more. The union’s Freelance Solidarity Project represents illustrators, photographers, videographers, social media producers and creatives in any medium.
What We Do
The NWU supports member writers and digital media workers in a number of ways, including:
- Providing press passes for freelance journalists and photographers
- Contract and grievance help
- Advocacy
- Health insurance assistance
- Defense of freedom of speech
The NWU also works to improve the rights of all writers and digital media workers in a number of ways, including:
- Promotion of legislation to ensure freelancers receive contracts and timely payment for work performed
- Defense of the rights of journalists throughout the world to safely carry out their work
- Development of worker-responsive standards on the corporate use of artificial intelligence
- Support for the efforts of writers and digital media workers in other unions to strengthen worker rights
NWU Oregon Chapter Leadership
Chair: Marty Hart-Landsberg
Treasurer: Lura Frazey
Secretary : Bob Rossi
Webmaster: Lura Frazey
Steering Committee member: Stefan Ostrach
Steering Committee member: Elissa Edge
Steering Committee member: Pat Riggs-Henson
Keep up with Oregon labor – visit our Oregon Labor Media and Resources page
National Writers Union (NWU)
NWU works 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. Learn more about the NWU at NWU.org.
NWU STANDS WITH THE WGA AND SAG-AFTRA, July 24, 2023
The National Writers Union stands in solidarity with the workers of SAG-AFTRA and the WGA. As a union of multidisciplinary writers and media workers, we’re acutely aware of the way creative labor is devalued and disrespected. We support and join our fellow creative workers in their fight for an industry where people come before profit. Here’s how you can take action. Read more.
L’Officiel to Pay $275,000 to 41 Freelance Workers, July 12, 2023
By Larry Goldbetter
The City of New York City has settled a lawsuit against L’Officiel USA, the American subsidiary of the French-owned global media company that operates several print and digital magazines about fashion, beauty, music, film, literature, culture, politics, lifestyle and wellness.
The lawsuit, which was filed in New York County Supreme Court in 2021, alleged that L’Officiel has engaged in a pattern of failing to pay freelancers on time or at all, including writers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designers and illustrators. Freelancers who worked for L’O and were not a part of the suit have 6 months to apply with the City law department to also receive double damages.
The settlement includes 41 freelancers (6-late payments and 35 non-payments) receiving double damages totalling $275K. Further, any freelancer owed money by L’Officiel who was not a part of this settlement has 6 months to file a case with the City and also receive double damages. If that’s you, click here to download the claims form.
The National Writers Union (NWU) had been representing about a dozen of the freelancers since 2019, while others had filed individual cases with the City’s Department of Consumer and Workers Protection (DCWP) which oversees the Freelance Isn’t Free law. NWU and DCWP worked together to merge the cases. Read more.