NWU represents members in legal cases of nonpayment from publishers, and works to prevent the exploitation of writers' work by electronic media corporations. Our goal is to improve the economic situation of the freelance writer. To do that our 4500 member organization provides grievance assistance in disputes between writers and their employers, contract advice, a database full of inside information on over 400 agents, health insurance, job banks, workshops and the opportunity to network with other writers. The most important issue writers need to be concerned about today is retaining rights to their work. Writers usually contact us when their publisher stops returning their calls or letters of demand for payment.
Most grievances are for non-payment.
In some cases, it is over contract terms or because the publisher has lost original art work or manuscripts. We offer medical insurance. We also offer press passes, grievance and contract advice, a national technical writers' job hotline, discount car rental rates, free publications about book contracts, and guides to author-agent agreements. As part of our book campaign, writers around the country have volunteered to visit bookstores to see if NWU members' works are on display. We also help each other out by putting up visiting authors when they are in town on book tours.