Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- CBS Corp. and newsroom employees reached a tentative labor agreement, easing pressure on a television network already facing a walkout by entertainment writers.

The proposed contract, which runs until April 2010, would give 500 news writers, editors, graphic artists and other staff a 3.5 percent raise upon ratification, the Writers Guild of America said today in an e-mailed statement. The employees had worked under an expired agreement since 2005.

Approval of the pact would enable the CBS, the most-watched U.S. broadcast network, to avoid another strike. The walkout by TV and film writers, in its 10th week, forced CBS and other networks to air reruns.

Under the tentative contract, newsroom employees would get another 3.5 percent pay increase in 2009, the guild said. Those who have worked for at least 200 days last year and didn't get a raise, would get a cash payment based on the number of days worked.

Negotiators representing news employees never used the strike authorization granted by union members in November.

Entertainment writers, also represented by the writers guild, walked off the job on Nov. 5 in a dispute over payment for the use of shows on the Internet and mobile phones.

CBS fell 38 cents to $24 at 4:01 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have declined 22 percent in the past 12 months.

To contact the reporters on this story: Michael White in Los Angeles at mwhite8@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 9, 2008 16:17 EST