New York Chapter of the National Writers Union  (UAW Local 1981)

The National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, is the nation's only labor union for freelance writers. The NWU advocates for writers' rights and fights to improve the income, contracts and working conditions for all freelance writers, including journalists, book authors, business and technical writers, essayists, poets, playwrights, script writers, writers for the web and campus writers.

We understand that the media giants are determined to pay us as little as possible and to keep as many rights to themselves as they can.

To be a writer you must know your rights and you must fight for your rights. 

The National Writers Union is affiliated with the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has a proud history of organizing auto workers. In the 1930s, General Motors and the Ford Motor Corporation, fiercely resisted union organizing by deploying the police and the National Guard to fight the auto workers. The famous sit-down strikes of the 1930s was a big turning point for the labor movement, as it lead to mass union organizing of other major industries, such as rubber and steal. Since those labor battles of the 1930s, the UAW has extended its organizing efforts. The  UAW of the 21st Century now represents workers in many different business sectors, such as legal, office, technical, human service, child care, education, and most recently, casino workers.  

Meet The Steering Committee Members of the New York Chapter of the National Writers Union

CHAPTER CHAIR: LOUIS REYES RIVERA

Louis Reyes Rivera is a poet, essayist, author and a radio talk show host on 99.5 FM WBAI. His weekly show can heard every Thursday from 2:00Pm to 3:00PM. 

RECORDING SECRETARY: LORETTA CAMPBELL 

Loretta Campbell served as chair of the New York Local Steering Committee in 2003 and is currently its secretary. She has published her work in Essence, Newsday, and was a reporter and health page editor for The City Sun. She is an adjunct professor of English at Touro College (a position she got through networking with a National Writers Union member). She is working on a collection of short stories.

FINANCIAL OFFICER: SUSAN E. DAVIS 

Sue Davis is financial officer for the local and co-chair of the National Book Division. Susan is  one of the union's leading contract and grievance adviser.

WEB MASTER: TIMOTHY SHEARD

Tim Sheard is a prolific writer and iMovie producer-director. You can learn about his Lenny Moss mystery novels and his Cat Burglar crime films at www.timsheard.com