WGAE inks Onion News writers pact

The writers on the Onion News Network have reached their first-ever collective bargaining agreement covering the show.The Writers Guild of America East, which repped the Onion News scribes, made the announcement Tuesday''The ONN writers stood together and won real improvements,'' said WGA East Executive Director Lowell Peterson. ''We welcome them into the WGAE and we look forward to a productive relationship with the company.'' The WGA said the agreement will increase minimum weekly compensation and provide pension and health contributions, retroactive to the start of writing earlier this summer. The producers also agreed to add writers and writing weeks.The ONN's second season begins on Sept. 30 with 10 weekly episodes.Peterson said more than 70 Guild members from other New York-based comedy shows signed a letter supporting the ONN writers and hundreds of guild members sent emails to the producers.The deal covers the upcoming season and any renewals. There are currently seven writers in the unit. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com