WGA, CBS reach tentative agreement

LOS ANGELES , Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with CBS that will affect about 500 news employees, Variety.com reported Wednesday.

The WGA-CBS agreement covers news writers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The news employees have worked for nearly two years without a new contract.

The WGA said Wednesday the pact was unanimously approved by the WGA-CBS Negotiating Committee, and will run until April 10, 2010, if it is ratified by a membership vote.

The new contract gives WGA members who are CBS News employees a 3.5 percent pay increase upon ratification and again the following year.