Union leaders expect CBS News writers to back strike

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Los Angeles Times

TV, radio staffers in New York, Washington, Chicago and L.A. plan to vote Nov. 15 on a work stoppage

By Matea Gold

NEW YORK -- As Hollywood braces for its television and film writers to go on strike as soon as Monday, more than 500 CBS News employees represented by the Writers Guild of America under a separate agreement with that network are contemplating their own work action.

The CBS television and radio staffers -- a group that includes news writers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers who work at a local or network level in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles -- plan to vote Nov. 15 on authorizing a strike.

Union leaders said they expect the employees, who have been working without a contract since April 2005, will back a work stoppage.

"My expectation is we are going to have an overwhelmingly high strike authorization vote, and I hope CBS will take it as a final signal that they need to come back to the table with a fair and equitable offer," said Ann Toback, assistant executive director of the WGA, East, who has been heading up the negotiations with the network.

Read more: http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-newsstrike3nov03,0,2389079.story?coll=cl-tv-features

[annabanana]

1. "news writers"

You mean that reporters don't write the stories that they have researched and done the legwork on so that they can tell us themselves?

I'm shocked, SHOCKED!

[Uncle Joe]

2. Did you see the Saturday Night Live Skit

when Will Ferrell; playing a morning show host ended up biting the head off their weatherman when the teleprompter went off for just a few minutes. That's just a taste of what will happen.

[ohio2007]

3. they make up the news nobody else can cover but will quote as "a reliable source"

fake but accurate?

hmmmm

[Beerboy]

7. 'newz writers'. That's what I thought.

Doesn't news just happen, then it's reported?

[LTR]

4. That's because the "CBS Evening 'News'" is entertainment programming

I don't think you could classify is as 'news' anymore.

Same with "The Early Show."

[Benhurst]

5. When you have a news organization led by a brilliant journalist such as Katie Couric,

there is no need for news writers.

[OnyxCollie]

6. Will anyone even notice if they strike?

Katie will bake cookies and offer some good shopping tips.