(courtesy Breaking News Alert from Variety.com)

The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with the
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
WGA West president Patric Verrone and WGA East president Michael
Winship sent out an email to members at 3 a.m. Saturday alerting
writers that a deal has been made that "protects a future in which the
Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and
delivery."

Hollywood writers could be back at work Monday
Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, February 09, 2008

The union representing striking entertainment writers told members Saturday they had reached a "tentative deal" to settle the three-month-long dispute.

"It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery," said a statement e-mailed to Writers Guild of America members Saturday.  

The crux of the dispute was the union's demand for a greater share of revenue from film and TV content distributed over the Internet.

"When they get paid, we get paid," said the union of the tentative agreement.

Around 10,500 Guild members began strike action on Nov. 5, just four days after their old contract with film and TV studios expired. The Golden Globes ceremony was scrapped due to the action and the upcoming Oscars were placed in jeopardy.

The e-mail statement said that while the Guild admits the agreement was less than perfect and not "perhaps all that we deserve for the countless hours of hard work and sacrifice, our strike has been a success."

Union members meet Saturday on both coasts of the U.S. to examine the minutiae of the agreement and discuss ratification and terms for ending the strike.

"There is much yet to be done and we intend to use all the techniques and relationships we've developed in this strike to make it happen," read the statement.

© Canwest News Service 2008

Drat! I was hoping to do a little "scabbing" along the way.