The Intl. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and CBS Broadcasting have agreed to a three-year extension of their current agreement.
Current pact will expire July 31, and the new agreement, which was ratified Friday, takes effect Aug. 1.
Deal covers an estimated 1,000 staff and 3,000 freelance employers -- the largest unionized unit at CBS -- and includes camera crew, sound staff, editors and maintenance technicians who work at CBS divisions including News, Sports, Entertainment, Television Stations, Radio and Operations.
Extension includes 3% salary increases in each of the first two years and 3.5% in the final year. Agreement also includes increases in contributions to benefits funds for freelance and per diem employees and for certain travel and per diem allowances for both staff and freelancers.
In a joint release Tuesday, the union and the net said the deal includes a unique cooperative pledge under which CBS has given IBEW its commitment to seek opportunities to assign union technicians to perform work for the Internet and emerging media. Deal's provisions cover an arrangement to utilize IBEW employees at a facility CBS will establish at its headquarters in Los Angeles to distribute programming via MediaFlo's mobile entertainment service.
"This is a forward-thinking agreement with one of the key unions in our industry," said CBS topper Leslie Moonves. "We applaud the IBEW leadership for their ongoing dialogue and for helping us to chart a course for the future that benefits everyone."
IBEW president Edwin D. Hill said, "This early agreement exemplifies the solid working relationship that CBS management and the IBEW-represented workers have developed over the years and our joint commitment to making CBS a strong and successful network."
Contact Dave McNary at
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