Tentative contract for ABC News writers

NEW YORK —  That’s one less strike to worry about.

The Writers Guild of America East announced Thursday that it had reached a tentative labor agreement with ABC News on behalf of 250 news writers, editors and other staff in the news division’s New York and Washington offices who have been working without a contract for almost three years.

The two-year contract, which will be voted on Dec. 13 by the guild members, grants the employees 3.5% annual raises, along with a one-time $3,700 payment to settle outstanding National Labor Relations Board charges brought against ABC by the union.

The union agreed to a reduction in payments for network radio employees and other adjustments.

“We’re pleased to secure, finally, a fair contract for our members,” Mona Mangan, executive director of the WGA East said in a statement. “We expect the membership to ratify this contract, and we can now continue our work of delivering quality news to the public.”

In a separate statement, ABC said it was “pleased, after three long years of negotiation, to be able to make a deal.”

Earlier this month, CBS News employees working under a WGA agreement voted to authorize a strike after negotiations broke down between the network and the union. No work stoppage has yet been called.