|
TEXT NINE Scoresof workers from MTV Networks walked off the job yesterday afternoon, fillingthe sidewalk outside the headquarters of its corporate parent, Viacom, toprotest recent changes in benefits. The walkout highlighted the concerns of acategory of workers who are sometimes called permalancers: permanentfreelancers who work like full-time employees but do not receive the samebenefits. Wavingsigns that read Shame on Viacom,the workers, most of them in their 20s, demanded that MTV Networks reverse aplan to reduce health and dental benefits for freelancers beginning Jan. 1. Ina statement, MTV Networks noted that its benefits program for full-timeemployees had also undergone changes, and it emphasized that the plan forfreelancers was still highly competitive within the industry. Many freelancersreceive no corporate benefits. But some of the protesters asserted thatcorporations were competing to see which could provide the most mediocre healthcare coverage. Matthew Yonda, who works at Nickelodeon, held a sign thatlabeled the network Sick-elodeon.Iveworked here every day for three years -- Im not afreelancer, Mr. Yonda said. Theyjust call us freelancers in order to bar us from getting the same benefits asemployees. Thechanges to the benefits package were announced last Tuesday. Freelancers weretold that they would become eligible for benefits after 160 days of work,beginning in January. While that eased previous eligibility rules, whichrequired freelancers to work for 52 weeks before becoming eligible, it wouldhave required all freelancers not yet eligible for benefits to start thewaiting period over again on Jan. 1. The 401 plan was also removed. OnThursday, acknowledging the complaints, MTV Networks reinstated the 401 planand said freelancers who had worked consistently since March would be eligible. | 
