Following in the footsteps of the staff at Image Comics earlier this year, the workers at Seven Seas Entertainment have launched an effort to form a union, United Workers of Seven Seas, as detailed on a dedicated website they’ve launched.
“Seven Seas Entertainment is the number one independent publisher of manga, danmei, and light novels in the US,” their website reads. “The company has grown exponentially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But with rapid growth comes growing pains, and we, the workers of Seven Seas, have been shouldering much of that pain. We find ourselves overworked, underpaid, and we do not currently receive the benefits otherwise typical of the publishing industry.”
They are working with Communications Workers of America, a union that represents employees in the communications and information industries, as well as those in airlines, public service, higher education, health care and more. Workers at Image also worked with CWA to unionize. Their demands include benefits and policies that are fairly typical for most companies, like paid time off, sick days, holiday breaks and healthcare, among others. 30 people signed their statement declaring a union.
Seven Seas is “the #1 independently-owned manga publisher in the English-language market,” as stated on the company’s website. They publish manga, translated Japanese novels and original comics. Some of their titles include orange, Monster Musume, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Devilman, Captain Harlock and a whole lot more.
One thought on “Workers at Seven Seas Entertainment seek to form a union”