Writers Strike Avoided

Hollywood's studio heads have been breathing a sigh of relief since news broke this weekend that last minute negotiations had succeeded in heading off a strike by the Writers Guild of America. The writers' union won a number of key points in negotiations with America's film and television studios - winning its members a staggering $41 million pay rise over three years. Now all that remains is for union members to agree to the terms in a vote. One of the main changes will be the enshrined right of screenwriters to visit the sets where their scripts are being filmed. Minimum pay rates will also rise, and writers will make more money from 'residuals' - the rates they are paid when their work is sold on to secondary markets. But while the writers are happy, two more unions representing US actors are still in negotiation with the studios. It's thought that the climb-down of the studios in this case will impact favourably on the actors' negotiations.