Writers Contracts

Members of the Writers Guild of America voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract with producers. Out of 3,089 ballots counted, 80% voted to approve. Last year, an earlier agreement was shot down when members of the eastern faction of the guild voted against the pact. As part of the agreement, representatives of writers will negotiate with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in the future about residuals paid to writers when shows air abroad and on cable television.

Studio representatives and writers remained far apart Monday as they began a two-week bargaining session on a new contract with opening remarks summarizing their positions and an exchange of formal proposals. The two sides, which agreed to not talk publicly about details, will spend the next two weeks attempting to make progress, a period insisted on by the Writers Guild of America. WGA President John Wells told reporters that if progress is being made, talks could continue beyond the two weeks.