Weinstein Co. signed an interim deal with the Writers Guild of America, co-founder Harvey Weinstein confirmed in an interview Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The agreement mirrors the pacts the union recently signed with United Artists — an independent company controlled by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner — and with David Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants Inc.

Such deals allow companies to hire union writers for their movie and television projects during the strike, which has been underway since early November.

Weinstein and others who have signed these deals hope the action will help push the studios and writers back to the negotiating table. “It’s important for the business to get the ball rolling and get back to work,” said Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, launched Weinstein Co. in 2005.

The studios broke off negotiations with the writers in early December and have made no attempt to restart talks.

Read the full L.A. Times story

.(registration required)