1982 Democratic Process . Writers charter the union and ratify a constitution that insures democracy. The organizing committees are reconstituted as NWU locals. Delegates elected by locals set the union's direction at annual assemblies. The NWU membership elects a national board to oversees those goals.
Locals retain autonomy in local affairs.
Feminist writer Andrea Eagan is the National Writers Union's first NWU president. 1983 First Big Grievance Win . The writers get money due them. 1989 Freedom of Expression . Members hold demonstrations in cities across the country when chain bookstores removed Salman Rushdie's controversial novel, The Satanic Verses , from their stores.