CBS & WGA West Settle Arbitration Claim Over Work Done After Writers Room Shut-Downs

The WGA West said today that it has settled an arbitration claim with CBS regarding work done by its members after writers rooms were closed on a trio of series. In a note to members, WGAW leaders said the network will pay $3.05 million to two dozen affected writers on the dramas MacGyver, SEAL Team and Hawaii Five-O.

“Guild members providing writing services on these series were required to continue working even though the studio had declared the rooms closed and stopped making weekly compensation and benefit contribution payments to the impacted writers,” the WGAW’s letter said (read it in full below). “This is a violation of the MBA. Staff writers and Article 14 writers should receive weekly pay and benefit contributions for each week they provide writing services as outlined in the MBA.”

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This $3.05 million settlement includes all the weekly pay, pension, health and parental leave contributions owed as well as more than $1 million in interest, the union said.

The letter, which hailed “a precedent-setting settlement that will help other writers who face this unacceptable practice,” was signed by WGA West President Meredith Stiehm, VP Michele Mulroney and Secretary-Treasurer Betsy Thomas.

Here is the WGA West’s full letter to members regarding the settlement:

Dear Members, 


The WGAW has identified several companies that have violated the MBA by declaring a writers’ room closed – even though writing continues – as a pretext to avoid paying Article 14 weeklies and benefit contributions. 


The Guild is pursuing claims for writers in those situations. One recently filed arbitration claim was on behalf of writers on the CBS shows MacGyver, Seal Team, and Hawaii 5-0. Guild members providing writing services on these series were required to continue working even though the studio had declared the rooms closed and stopped making weekly compensation and benefit contribution payments to the impacted writers. 


This is a violation of the MBA. Staff writers and Article 14 writers should receive weekly pay and benefit contributions for each week they provide writing services as outlined in the MBA. 


The Guild negotiated a settlement of these claims against CBS for a total of $3.05 million for the 24 affected writers. This amount included all the weekly pay, pension, health, and parental leave contributions owed as well as more than $1 million in interest. This is a precedent-setting settlement that will help other writers who face this unacceptable practice. 


This case is one of many the Guild’s legal department has pursued on behalf of writers. In just the past two and a half years alone, the Guild has collected about $100 million through our enforcement process including around $50 million in residuals for Netflix theatricals as a result of the Bird Box arbitration. Here is a breakdown: 

2022: The Legal Department collected $78,997,278 in 2022, which includes:$4,951,632 in initial compensation, plus $1,100,096 in interest for late payment of initial compensation;

$69,838,008 in residual compensation, plus $2,430,723 in interest;

$112,455 in writer damages; $20,971 in Guild damages; and

$512,761 in Pension Plan and Health Fund Contributions, plus $30,631 in interest.

2023: The Legal Department collected $6,631,155 in 2023, which includes:$2,277,359 in initial compensation, plus $755,969 in interest for late payment of initial compensation; 

$2,849,812 in residual compensation, plus $241,652 in interest;

$16,539 in writer damages; $21,250 in Guild damages; and

$523,525 in Pension Plan and Health Fund contributions, plus $5,049 in interest.
 
2024: The Legal Department collected a total of $14,333,244 to date in 2024, which includes:$7,149,827 in initial compensation, plus $2,101,745 in interest for late payment of initial compensation;

$3,998,839 in residual compensation, plus $447,903 in interest;

$7,344 in writer damages; $40,038 in Guild damages; and

$571,541 in Pension Plan and Health Fund contributions, plus $15,977 in interest.

Writers have fought over many decades – including our recent 148-day strike – to win important protections in the MBA. The WGAW staff – with the help of members – remains vigilant in enforcing the agreement and ensuring those hard-won gains are realized.

If you or someone you know is working for a company that is violating the MBA, contact our Legal Department.

In solidarity, 

WGAW Officers
Meredith Stiehm, President
Michele Mulroney, Vice President
Betsy Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer

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