Writers Approve New Contract

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) had a landslide vote from its members to approve a contract which ended its three-month strike action.

WGA claims more than 94 per cent of its 4,000 members voted in support of the new pay deal which comes after it ended a three-month strike over Internet royalties – which crippled the American TV and movie industry earlier this month (Feb08).

The new contract provides payment for writers for content sold on new media platforms such as the Internet and DVD.

WGA West President Patric Verrone says, “This contract is a new beginning for writers in the digital age.”

The new deal runs from 2008 to 2011 and provides writers with a fee of up to $1,200 (#600) for programs streamed on the Internet for the first two years, and two per cent of a distributor’s gross sales in the third year.

(CAM/WNWCCB/TN)