CBS News employees who are members of the Writers Guilds of America have ratified their new collective bargaining agreement. The vote was 83% yes, 17% no. The three-year deal (retroactive to April, 2010) covers newswriters, writer/producers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, and promotion writers working in television and radio on the national and local levels in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Contract salary rates will increase 2% next month and another 2% in April 2012. “We achieved our main goals of ensuring that the Guilds and our members have a solid future at CBS News and also realize economic gains,” said Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East in a statement.