WGAE Members At CBS News 24/7 Ratify New Contract

Writers Guild of America East members at CBS News 24/7 have ratified a three-year contract, with salary increases and AI protections.

The contract was ratified unanimously by the 60-member bargaining unit, the guild said.

According to the guild, the contract includes generative artificial intelligence protections including advance notice before systems are implemented, the right to decline credits or bylines when generative AI is used, and semi-annual meetings between the company and the guild.

The guild said, “The company has agreed to negotiate over the impact of [generative artificial intelligence] 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.”

The contract features annual wage increases of 3% in year one, retroactive to March 10; 3.5% in year two; and 3% in year three. There also is a $1,500 ratification bonus.

Salary minimums were raised across all classifications, with the lowest increasing to $68,000 in the first year. Other details include two weeks’ advance notice of layoff, or pay in lieu of notice; and no cap on severance in the event of layoff. Other improvements were made to exempt employee overtime compensation, per diems, commuter reimbursement benefits and workplace conditions.

The CBS News 24/7 bargaining committee said in a statement, “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.” 

CBS News went through another round of layoffs starting on March 20, with the announcement of the closure of CBS News Radio.

The CBS News 24/7 contract expired on March 10, and that was followed by a one-day work stoppage on March 17.

Beth Godvik, vice president of the WGAE‘s Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News sector, noted that the contract negotiations occurred “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.”