The Writers Guild of America East and ABC have relaunched long-stalled contract negotiations covering 225 newswriters, editors and producers, who have been working for more than a year under an expired contract.
In the first negotiating session since October, the WGA reported ABC rejected a proposal to link wage increases to the cost of living index and held to its 2% proposal for wage increases. The WGA also has demanded that ABC withdraw its two proposals to remove producers from the bargaining unit.
The guild also said it has withdrawn a proposal for three personal days while ABC has withdrawn proposals on sick leave, overtime entitlement and limiting pension options. The next bargaining session will be April 27 in Washington, D.C.
The employees have been working under a contract that expired Jan. 31, 2005.
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com