Senator Scott Wiener announces CA Senate Bill 988, the Freelance Worker Protection Act

Senator Wiener Introduces Bill to Expand Freelance Worker Protections SACRAMENTO – January 31, 2024 — Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced Senate Bill 988 (SB 988), the Freelance Worker Protection Act. SB 988 provides basic protections — enforced by the State Labor Commissioner and the Attorney General — for freelance workers, including the right […]

We’re Writing Our Way Forward

By Diane Ward I had the pleasure of attending the International Women’s Writer Guild (IWWG) from July 22- 24. Offerings included keynote speakers, agent and editor panels, pitch sessions, an open mic, workshops, breakout sessions and discussion groups. The conference was an oasis hosted by women for  women.     Participants were offered a diverse pallet of […]

Announcing NWU National, Chapter and Delegate Elections  

It’s time for NWU elections. Later this month you will receive a call for nominations that will include a description of each office and instructions on how to self-nominate for the position of your choice.  All contested elections will be conducted electronically under the direction and supervision of E-Ballot. They will send out the ballots […]

The Coolest Person at the Writers Conference

At the Association of Writers and Writing Programs in Portland, OR, the final week of March, I did the usual: attend workshops and hit the parties. But it was the unusual that resonated: A chat with writer Jennifer F. Steil at the Authors Guild gathering. She told me about serving as a newspaper editor in […]

2018 DA Recap

2018 Delegate Assembly Moves the Union Forward The 2018 Delegate Assembly, held in New York City, August 10-12, opened with a public event on Friday night highlighted by keynote speaker Julia Salazar.  She is running for NY State Senate against a long-time Democratic incumbent, and is part of the progressive movement that produced the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez […]

2nd VP Report to the 2018 Delegate Assembly

Living on the other side of the country from NWU headquarters, I have sometimes felt out of the loop with regard to NYC cultural activities, events, in-house meetings and opportunities. So as the editor of newsletter and website, I enjoy the opportunity to reach out to members around the country and get them to contribute […]

President’s Column

NWU Elections 2018 First, let me say “Thank You,” for your overwhelming show of support given to me and our national leadership in the recent election. I am really looking forward to what we can all achieve together as a union over the next three years, building on our recent successes. Let me also congratulate […]

Ramsey’s Latest Play Staged

NWU member Calvin Ramsey staged a reading of his latest play Damaged Virtues, November 28 at Harlem’s National Black Theater.  Based on a true story about J. Marion Sims, a 19th-century physician, the drama explored the doctor’s sadistic penchant for performing experimental gynecological surgery on enslaved women. Despite the pain and suffering he visited upon them, […]

Cruel But Not Unusual: Mumia’s Treatment Delayed

Mumia Abu-Jamal received a cruel mix of bad and good news from a prison doctor on March 31. The doctor shared the results of his recent lab test, which showed clear signs of cirrhosis, an irreversible scarring of the liver caused by his untreated Hep C. The doctor also informed Mumia that he would be […]