WGAE, WGAW Ratify New Collective-Bargaining Agreement with CBS News

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES (May 16, 2022)⁠—The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement covering 260 newswriters, producers, graphic artists, desk associates, and others at CBS News in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles.

Highlights from the collective bargaining agreement include:

• Staff will get 2% minimum salary increases each year, plus full pension rate increase will be paid by the company;
• Temporary employees pay goes up 3.50% in year one, 3.0% in year two, and 3.25% in year three;
• Producer fees increase to $50 in Los Angeles and New York (Contract year two) and WBBM (by $5/day year – to $50 by year three);
• Fee for filling in for Executive Producer or Senior Producer (in many but not all circumstances);
• Acting editor fee rate increases by 15%;
• Severance pay for long-term full-time temps;
• Parental leave for long-term full-time temps;
• Improved comp day calculation (affecting a small number of temps);
• Increased severance pay for long-term staff employees; up to 48 or even 72 weeks for certain layoffs;
• Side letter on company process for requesting work from home;

Lowell Peterson, Executive Director for the Writers Guild of America, East, said, “Because our members at CBS News mobilized and made their voices heard, we won a solid contract that raises pay, includes a hefty boost in pension contributions, increases fees, and makes transformational gains for longer-term “temporary” employees – severance pay and parental leave.  In a challenging environment, we were able to make real gains.”

The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) are labor unions representing writers in motion pictures, television, news and new media. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars, and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America, East, visit www.wgaeast.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America West, visit www.wga.org.

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