National Writers Union takes action against Nautilus Magazine for non-payment of freelancers

The National Writers Union is taking action this week against U.S. science magazine Nautilus for non-payment of freelance writers. Nineteen writers say they are collectively owed $50,000 by the magazine. Some say they have been waiting for payment for over a year.

The NWU, an American trade union that represents freelance writers, published an open letter to Nautilus this week. In it, the 19 writers say that with the support of the union they plan to pursue “a group non-payment grievance with legal action if necessary.” The NWU also published a list of stories that Nautilus has published but not paid for.

A number of media outlets have reported on the NWU’s efforts this week, including New York Daily News. The American digital science magazine Undark first reported on Nautilus’s late payment of freelancers back in April. This week Undark published a post called “Freelancers Organize to Demand Payment From Beleaguered Nautilus Magazine,” which contains comments from the publisher of Nautilus and the president of the National Writers Union.

Writers have been tweeting about the issue this week using the hashtag #paynautiluswriters.

Last week, Story Board posted about the NWU’s campaign to help a group of freelancers who say they are collectively owed $85,000 by Ebony magazine.