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CBS Avoids Strike By WGA News Writers

NEW YORK CITY  - The Writers Guilds of America East and West and CBS have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for the WGA-CBS employees who have been working under an expired contract since April 1, 2005. The agreement, which has been approved unanimously by the WGA-CBS Negotiating Committee, must still be ratified by membership vote. The contract covers approximately 500 newswriters, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers, and researchers working in television and radio on the national and local levels.The new contract, which becomes effective upon membership ratification, runs until April 1, 2010. Under the terms of the agreement, WGA-CBS employees will receive a 3.5% raise upon ratification of the contract and again in 2009. In addition, most regularly scheduled employees who worked 200 days or more in 2007 and did not receive wage increases during the negotiations time frame will receive an additional $3,700 payment. Employees who worked shorter schedules will receive pro-rated payments.

"This has been a long struggle, but our members became mobilized and engaged in a way they have never been before," says Mona Mangan, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East. "This contract truly belongs to them."

"This has been a difficult process," says Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild of America, East. "We are pleased that it has resulted in an agreement that will protect our members at CBS News and insure that they will continue to bring their exceptional skills, creativity and know-how to the production of quality broadcast journalism."

"This is good news for newswriters and I congratulate them. After months without negotiations, once bargaining resumed we were able to reach an agreement quickly," says Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West. "We ask CBS to come back to the table with the will to make a deal with striking film and television writers."

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7 Comments »

  1. Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?

    Actually it went quite quickly, when reasonable fairminded people get together, that is.

    Got that, Dick?

    Comment by PJ - Writer — January 9, 2008 @ 4:41 pm

  2. Wow, the news writers were able to reach an agreement without striking!

    Comment by Anonymous — January 9, 2008 @ 4:47 pm

  3. It took way too long and led to a lot of animosity, but the new agreement, as I’ve heard, actually got the writers more than they asked for. Things went pretty smoothly between Moonves and IBEW as well. 3% a year for three years, and jurisdiction over Sat radio, desk top, and cell phone news distribution. Could it be that Moonves is not the meanie he’s being made out to be?

    Comment by Eastgate — January 9, 2008 @ 5:28 pm

  4. “After months without negotiations, once bargaining resumed we were able to reach an agreement quickly,” says Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America, West. ”

    Ok now that you’ve said it, lets get to it. Patrick, what is the plan? You can’t just say, “we don’t accept ultimatums” and that’s it. What is the plan to get back to the table? Please tell us you have one.

    Comment by get real — January 9, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

  5. You mean writers can continue to work under an expired contract while negotiating their next contract??? What a concept! Explain again why I’m losing my job?

    Comment by SoonToBeUnemployed — January 9, 2008 @ 10:46 pm

  6. It really is awsome to hear that people have been working without a contract and yet they have struck a deal. I have been out of work since the end of November and I still dont get why the WGA could do what they are doing now and still kept everyone working. Shame on both sides for not even trying to negotiate so 250,000 people can get back to work . thats alot more than 12,000 writers. People are mad and only getting madder! This strike needs to end and it needs to end NOW!!!!!!It seems your head guy Patrick Verone doesnt have a clue or plan. You writers deserve what you want but not at everyones expense. This only shows the negotiations could have been done while we worked. Think about it and all the people who have suffered because of this.

    Comment by unemployed crew member — January 10, 2008 @ 1:49 pm

  7. The newswriters did not get more than they asked for, don’t be daft. The tentative agreement may be better than they expected, but not better than they asked for.

    Comment by wryte on — January 10, 2008 @ 2:26 pm

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