WGA strikes a deal with UA

The Writers Guild of America has signed a deal with United Artists Inc., becoming the first movie company to reach an interim agreement and allowing the Tom Cruise start-up to hire union writers despite the continuing strike, sources close to the negotiations said. Since studios broke off talks with the WGA in December, the guild has been attempting to sign up independent companies to put pressure on major studios to return to the bargaining table. More details to come.

--Richard Verrier

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