Hollywood Writers Approved Contract

Hollywood Writers Approved Contract
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 24, 2004


Filed at 3:32 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hollywood writers have approved a three-year, $58 million contract with studios, producers and TV networks, union officials said.

Seventy-four percent of more than 2,200 votes were in support of the new deal, which will last through 2007 and is nearly double the amount producers offered six months ago, the Writers Guild of America said.

``Even though what we were able to achieve at the bargaining table fell short of many of our hopes, it is nevertheless a very good deal,'' said Daniel Petrie Jr., president of the western chapter of the Writers Guild of America.

The contract, approved on Tuesday, was tentatively approved last month. It increases contributions to members' health plan from 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent and is retroactive to Nov. 1.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Writers-Guild-Contract.html