TEXT ONE
Scores of workers from MTV Networks walked off the job yesterday afternoon, filling the sidewalk outside the headquarters of its corporate parent, Viacom, to protest recent changes in benefits. The walkout highlighted the concerns of a category of workers who are sometimes called permalancers: permanent freelancers who work like full-time employees but do not receive the same benefits.
Waving signs that read Shame on Viacom, the workers, most of them in their 20s, demanded that MTV Networks reverse a plan to reduce health and dental benefits for freelancers beginning Jan. 1. In a statement, MTV Networks noted that its benefits program for full-time employees had also undergone changes, and it emphasized that the plan for freelancers was still highly competitive within the industry. Many freelancers receive no corporate benefits. But some of the protesters asserted that corporations were competing to see which could provide the most mediocre health care coverage. Matthew Yonda, who works at Nickelodeon, held a sign that labeled the network Sick-elodeon. Ive worked here every day for three years -- Im not a freelancer, Mr. Yonda said. They just call us freelancers in order to bar us from getting the same benefits as employees.
The changes to the benefits package were announced last Tuesday. Freelancers were told that they would become eligible for benefits after 160 days of work, beginning in January. While that eased previous eligibility rules, which required freelancers to work for 52 weeks before becoming eligible, it would have required all freelancers not yet eligible for benefits to start the waiting period over again on Jan. 1. The 401 plan was also removed. On Thursday, acknowledging the complaints, MTV Networks reinstated the 401 plan and said freelancers who had worked consistently since March would be eligible.
Fueled by a series of blog posts on the media Web site Gawker -- the first post was headlined The Viacom Permalance Slave System -- a loose cohort of freelancers created protest stickers and distributed walkout fliers last week. Caroline OHare, a unit manager who has worked for MTV for more than two years, said the new health care plan -- with higher deductibles and a $2,000 cap on hospital expenses each year -- had provoked outrage. They think they can treat us like children that dont have families, mortgages or dreams of retirement, she said.
Outside Viacoms headquarters, several workers held posters with the words, Theres too many of us to ignore. It was unclear how many freelancers are on the companys payroll; an MTV Networks spokeswoman said the figure was not known because it rises and falls throughout the year. The company has 5,500 full-time employees, excluding freelancers, around the world.
Two freelancers and one full-time employee, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, estimated that the percentage of freelancers in some departments exceeded 75 percent. Another labor action is expected to take place outside Viacom later this week. Members of the Writers Guild of America, who have been on strike for five weeks, are expected to picket there on Thursday.
教你理解GRE阅读中的倒装用法
GRE真题阅读难句解析(3)
GRE阅读常见困扰如何应对
GRE真题阅读难句解析(1)
GRE阅读答题慢原因详解
GRE阅读文章选自哪里
GRE阅读文章来源分析
如何巧妙处理GRE阅读词汇
如何从细节入手提升GRE阅读速度
教你如何面对GRE阅读中的陌生词汇
GRE阅读能力提升技巧分析
GRE阅读难句结构分析
GRE阅读难句分析:省略句
GRE阅读:如何用排除法快速解答
GRE阅读参考资料一览
GRE阅读临场技巧训练
GRE阅读词汇如何活学活用
GRE阅读有几层“境界"
GRE阅读中的难句分析技巧
GRE阅读:读完就忘怎么办
GRE阅读难句分析:定语从句
GRE阅读难句分析:分词作状语
如何合理分配GRE阅读时间
GRE阅读解题的七大法则
GRE阅读:默读老走神怎么办
GRE阅读各个类型难句分析
带你了解GRE阅读高频词
GRE阅读难句语法结构详解
GRE阅读逻辑推理题思路
GRE阅读文章标记技巧
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |