WGAE eyes CBS cuts

Guild looks at net's dealings

By DAVE MCNARY

CBS and the Writers Guild of America East have launched contract negotiations covering newswriters, editors, desk assistants/production assistants, graphic artists and researchers.

Current three-year deal expires April 1.

The guild said the net has demanded all producers be removed from Guild coverage, resulting in a loss of at least 26 jobs in WCBS-TV and 30 jobs from KCBS/KCAL-TV. It said CBS has alleged that guild members are less accountable for the quality of the newscast.

The WGA East also said CBS has proposed an 18% across-the-board salary reductions in N.Y. and Chicago Radio as a result of the loss of a paid lunch hour; 9% across-the-board salary reductions in all other shops due to the loss of half the lunch hour; loss of the equivalent of an entire week's pay for everyone working the overnight shift due to the proposed reduction in night differential; and a proposal to turn writers' work over to desk assistants in Network Radio, which could lead to the loss of up to 10 writer jobs.