NEW YORK — Dozens of unionized employees at CBS News 24/7, the network’s flagship streaming service, walked off the job Tuesday in a 24-hour strike that signals a deepening rift between staff and the network’s new leadership.
The labor action, involving approximately 60 producers and writers, hit the network’s headquarters in New York City and the KPIX-TV CBS News Bay Area office in San Francisco. The walkout follows the collapse of contract negotiations last week after management and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) failed to reach an agreement on wage increases, severance protections, and what employees describe as “punishing” shift demands.
The strike comes at a high-stakes moment for parent company Paramount Skydance, which is currently finalizing a historic $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
A “Get on Board or Get Out” Mentality
Negotiations for a new three-year contract imploded after the previous agreement expired on March 9. Union representatives allege that leadership offered terms significantly worse than previous contracts, including a 1.75% annual raise—a figure members say fails to keep pace with inflation.
Internal friction has also centered on scheduling. Jordan Lilly, a producer and bargaining committee member, noted that management has demanded 12-hour weekend shifts despite the streaming service lacking weekend-specific programming.
“We generally get treated like we are lucky to be here even though we are the ones that make everything show up on your screen,” Lilly said, describing a new “get on board or get out” mentality within the newsroom.
The Weiss Era and the WBD Merger
This is the first major labor challenge for Bari Weiss, who was installed as CBS News Editor-in-Chief in late 2025 after Paramount acquired her media startup, The Free Press, for $150 million. Weiss’s tenure has been marked by a swift and controversial restructuring aimed at making the legacy network more “Trump-friendly” and digitally focused.
The unrest is exacerbated by looming workforce reductions. Weiss is reportedly planning to lay off 15% of staff as part of a broader corporate pivot. These fears have intensified following the Paramount-WBD deal, as the combined entity looks to find $6 billion in “synergy savings.”
“With the prospect of layoffs perpetually on the horizon, the best way to insulate our colleagues is to ensure they have an equitable exit package,” Lilly added.
| Key Strike Issues | Union Demand | Management Offer |
| Annual Raise | Inflation-adjusted | 1.75% |
| Severance | Enhanced protections | Current baseline |
| Schedules | Defined 8-10 hour shifts | Mandatory 12-hour shifts |
Journalistic Integrity and “DOGE” Tactics
Beyond economics, the walkout reflects a cultural clash. The WGAE recently advised members to ignore a request from Weiss to provide “DOGE-style” lists detailing their daily output—a move staff interpreted as a surveillance tactic inspired by government efficiency audits.
Critics of the new regime point to the recent pulling of a 60 Minutes segment and the departure of veteran talent as evidence of a shift in editorial standards. Tiffany Hudson, another striking producer, noted that interactions with Weiss remain limited, with many employees learning about workplace changes through trade publications rather than internal memos.
A CBS News spokesperson stated Tuesday: “We continue to negotiate in good faith and hope to reach a fair resolution quickly.”
