WGA East Members at CBS News 24/7 Ratify Third Union Contract
NEW YORK, NY (April 14, 2026) – Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at CBS News 24/7 and CBS News/Paramount management reached a deal on their third three-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract was unanimously ratified by the 60-member bargaining unit.
The contract establishes critical protections against Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), including advance notice before the company implements new GAI systems, the right to decline credits or bylines when GAI is used, and semi-annual meetings between the company and the Guild on GAI. The company has agreed to negotiate over the impact of GAI as required by law and to indemnify employees who use GAI consistent with company policy. Any current staff employees laid off as a result of GAI will receive 1.5 times the severance they would otherwise be entitled to under the agreement.
Other contract highlights include:
- Annual wage increases of 3% (retroactive to March 10, 2026): 3.5% in year two, and 3% in year three, plus a $1,500 ratification bonus;
- Salary minimums raised across all job classifications, with the lowest minimum increasing to $68,000 in year one;
- Two weeks’ advance notice of layoff, or pay in lieu of notice;
- No cap on severance pay in the event of involuntary layoff;
- Improved upgrade fees and overtime compensation for exempt employees;
- Service credit for staff employees for past work as per diems — one year of credit for 200 days/1,600 hours worked;
- Protected commuter reimbursement benefits including a $100 daily limit;
- Enhanced working conditions including guaranteed desk and chair, lockable storage, private call space, adequate air filtration, and active shooter/situational awareness trainings to address significant workplace health and safety concerns;
- And more.
The CBS News 24/7 bargaining committee said, “We are proud to ratify a new contract with management following our unit’s historic efforts. Because of our members’ solidarity, we won industry-leading gains in compensation, better severance and overtime compensation, protections around artificial intelligence, and important quality of life improvements. This contract proves that when workers stand together, they can win terms that would be impossible to achieve as individuals. We hope this contract will improve industry standards and inspire other workplaces to fight for what they deserve.”
Beth Godvik, VP of the WGAE’s Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News Sector, said, “The CBS News 24/7 unit showed unshakeable solidarity which won them the strongest contract this unit has ever earned. It happened as CBS News was in the middle of significant upheaval. Members delivered an overwhelming strike pledge then followed through with the first CBS News work stoppage in decades. They won meaningful protections that will matter for years to come. The WGAE is proud to stand with them.”
CBS News 24/7 became the first live-streaming news network to win a collective bargaining agreement in 2020.
In its Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News sector, the WGAE also represents workers at 1010 WINS, ABC News, Audacy (WCBS-AM, WBBM-AM, and KNX-AM), CBS News, CBS News Digital, Fox 5 WNYW-TV, MSNOW, NBC Promo Writers, Thirteen Productions (Thirteen/WNET), and WBBM / CBS 2 News.
ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST
The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO, is a labor union of more than 7,500 members working in film, television, news, podcasts and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit wgaeast.org.
