CBS News 24/7 staffers, represented by the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), staged a 24-hour walkout on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, after failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with parent company Paramount Skydance (formerly Paramount).
The action began at 6 a.m. ET and involved protests outside the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and KPIX-TV (CBS News Bay Area) in San Francisco.
Live programming on the streaming channel reportedly did not resume until around 11 a.m. ET due to the walkout.
The union cited management's refusal to provide fair wages, essential work protections, and better terms than the previous contract. “CBS News 24/7 journalists are walking off the job on both coasts today because management refuses to agree to a new contract with essential work protections and fair wages,” the WGAE stated. Despite good-faith negotiations and a strike pledge signed by 95% of the 60-member unit, the union said offers remained worse than prior deals. The previous contract expired on March 9, 2026.
A CBS News spokesperson responded: “We continue to negotiate in good faith and hope to reach a fair resolution quickly.” The walkout highlighted ongoing tensions in the streaming news sector, where staff emphasized the need for protections amid the growth of digital platforms.