Union Deal for 'Daily Show' Writers

Writers on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" will reap raises, secondary and foreign residuals and a union pension plan following the first-ever agreement between the WGA East and producers of the basic-cable program.

The 14 affected show employees will see salaries rise to levels comparable with other late-night variety shows, WGAE execs said.

"We negotiated in good faith with Comedy Central for 10 months, and I am proud to say that both sides acted fairly and professionally," WGAE president Chris Albers said. "I am thrilled that the writers of 'The Daily Show' have finally achieved a union contract. They have received critical acclaim for years, and now they finally have the same protections and advantages their colleagues have on similar shows."

Albers added that Stewart "stood by his writers and insisted they be properly compensated and treated fairly."

The group getting WGAE membership include Stewart, 11 writers and two writer-producers, a union spokeswoman said.

WGA West president Patric Verrone offered his congratulations on the pact.

"At a time when networks and production companies are looking for new ways to keep writers from getting guild benefits, it is wonderful to be able to welcome this show and these writers into the fold," Verrone said. "I expect it to be a sign of things to come."

WGAE executive director Mona Mangan said, "Not only is this contract good for the writers, but these writers are good for the Writers Guild."

"The Daily Show" is a joint production of Hello Doggie Inc. and Comedy Central.