TVSpy
Writers Guild of America members working for CBS News ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The new 3-year contract covers CBS News employees working on the national level as well as in local TV and radio in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
The new agreement for CBS News’ WGA members passed after receiving 83% of the vote. The contract, which runs from April, 2010 to April, 2013, covers WGA members working as writer-producers, newswriters, editors, graphic artists, desk assistants, production assistants, and promotion writers.
“We achieved our main goals of ensuring that the Guilds and our members have a solid future at CBS News and also realize economic gains,” said Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East. “Getting members into the Guild pension plan is a major advance, and we are pleased to also get wage increases for our members.”
As part of the deal, CBS News employees will be eligible for the Guild’s pension fund and, for the first time, writers-producers will have a minimum rate. Perhaps the most significant development for those working in local TV is a guaranteed minimum percentage of WGA representation at CBS’s local TV news entities.