1) From the Guild to the WGGB – MOTION CARRIED

In 2015 the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, we went through a rebranding to update our visual identity and to celebrate our trade union status.  Our house style and all external communications refer to us as the WGGB and not the Guild.  The Rulebook has not been updated, and some of the language is outdated.

Motion: To replace ‘the Guild’ with ‘the WGGB’ throughout the rulebook, updating rules 2 – 14, 16-21, 23-32, Appendices A – D

Proposed by Executive Council

Note: Under Rule 31.1 this rule-changing motion requires the support of two-thirds of the Full Members present and voting at the meeting. 

 2) Countering Far Right Narrative – MOTION CARRIED

We are seeing a marked increase in far-right activity, from street violence against people from migrant and minoritised backgrounds across the UK, to a surge in misinformation and hatred posted online. Far right ideologies are a threat not only to our communities but also our sector, fostering a culture of fear and intimidation that has led to the cancellation of writers’ work, the removal of books from libraries and games from store fronts because of their content, and increasing pressure on writers to appease far right views in their work.

The WGGB rejects far-right ideologies that seek to divide our communities and harm our sector.

We commit to countering far right narratives and their normalisation. We will help equip members to harness their considerable skills to offer an alternative narrative.

  • We will make information and resources available to members on ways to counter far right narratives and their normalisation
  • We will make information and resources available to equip members to confidently engage in protest and community action to resist the far-right
  • We affirm our commitment to defending diversity, equality and the protection of the voices of minoritised writers across the UK culture sector and will work across craft areas and regions to this aim.

Proposed by the Executive Council

 3) Complaints against the WGGB or WGGB officials – MOTION CARRIED

As a trade union and an employer, it is essential that WGGB remains compliant with all relevant legislation, including employment law.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 places new responsibilities on organisations to protect individuals from harassment and/or abuse.

One way that WGGB can meet this responsibility, is by ensuring that our own complaint processes are up-to-date and compliant with existing codes of practice. Currently, this is not the case.

There are two clauses in the rule book which deal with complaints, Rule 7 which deals with complaints about individual members and Rule 8 which deals with complaints about the Guild or Guild Officials.

While Rule 7 offers members a clear procedure including the right of appeal, as currently worded, Rule 8 has no such process and could leave individuals with no means of defence or the ability to appeal any outcomes. It does not differentiate between whole committees, individual elected officials and staff and subsequently denies employees their basic rights under UK employment law by side stepping the right to be accompanied, disciplinary and grievance procedures and the right of appeal.

Furthermore, the current Rule 8 states that a member can complain that the Guild has acted contrary to a WGGB rule, but does not define ‘the Guild’.

This proposed rule change addresses the issues raised above by:

  • Defining ‘the Guild’ as a WGGB committee.
  • Setting out separate processes for complaints made against committees, elected officials and employees

Complaints against a committee will be dealt with by the Appeals Committee following the existing procedure.

Complaints against elected officials will be conducted under the existing process for members under WGGB Rule 7.  Complaints against WGGB staff will be investigated under the WGGB staff disciplinary procedure.

Motion

Delete existing Rule 8 wording:

8.1 COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE GUILD OR GUILD OFFICIALS

Any complaint in writing from a member in benefit alleging that the Guild or any Officer or official of the Guild has acted contrary to the Rules shall be referred by the Executive Council to the Appeals Committee and the committee shall investigate the complaint in such manner and make such enquiries as it thinks fit and shall recommend to the Executive Council, which shall not be bound to act upon the recommendations of the Committee but should it fail to act upon the recommendations of the Committee it must seek confirmation of the members at the next following General Meeting.

Replace with the following wording:

  1. 8.1 COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE WGGB OR WGGB OFFICIALS

Any complaint in writing from a member in benefit alleging that the Guild (defined as the Executive Council or a Craft Committee or a Regional/National Committee), or any officer or official of the Guild has acted contrary to the Rules, will be investigated under Rule 8.1 (a) or (b) or (c) below, and has to be lodged within twelve months of the date on which the event giving rise to the complaint occurred.

(a) If a complaint is made against the Guild (as defined above) then this shall be referred by the Executive Council to the Appeals Committee (as defined in Rule 7.2 (xiii)) and the committee shall investigate the complaint in such manner and make such enquiries as it thinks fit and report to the Executive Council the outcome of their investigation including any recommendations for action. The Executive Council shall not be bound to act upon the recommendations of the Appeals Committee but, should it fail to act upon them, then it will explain its decision to the membership at the next Annual General Meeting. 

(b)  If a complaint is made against any individual Guild officer (member) then this will be investigated under Rule 7.

(c) If a complaint is made against any individual Guild official (staff), then this will be investigated using the WGGB Staff Disciplinary Procedure, in accordance with the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary Procedure. In the first instance any complaint should be forwarded to the General Secretary, or, if the complaint is about the General Secretary, to the WGGB Chair.  

Proposed by the Executive Council

Note: Under Rule 31.1 this rule-changing motion requires the support of two-thirds of the Full Members present and voting at the meeting. 

 

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