Victory!

Filed under: MTV

After much pressure, Viacom is finally expanding its benefits for long term temps (or "permalancers") and they are now getting health insurance!

CLICK HERE to read the internal memo the company just sent out.

As you know, we’ve been holding information sessions over the past several days to discuss our freelance and temporary employee benefits. We’ve had many insightful conversations and heard a number of your specific concerns.

As a result of the input you’ve given to us directly through the sessions and your managers, we want to announce the following changes:

· We are expanding our freelance and temporary medical and dental benefits options to include the United Healthcare plan under which many of you are currently covered. This means anyone who is eligible for benefits in 2008 can opt for medical and dental coverage with United Healthcare at the current rate of contribution, or you can elect instead to enroll in the newly offered Aetna plan.

The Aetna plan has certain advantages that may make it the preferred option for many of our freelance and temporary employees. Based on your input, however, we want to make sure that those of you who prefer the United Healthcare plan have that option.

· As a result of this change, the freelance and temporary employee payroll conversion to Cast and Crew has been delayed until February 1, 2008. Therefore, the December 14th deadline to submit your Cast and Crew paperwork has been postponed. We will inform you of the new deadline early in the New Year.

· We’ve implemented a process for evaluating freelance and temporary employee positions for possible conversion to staff positions. This process is currently underway and decisions will be communicated by January 31st, 2008.

Posted: Dec 12, 2007 at 5:44 pm / Email this »

See All 75 Comments

75 comments to “Victory!”

bri says – reply to this

1

first
jj says – reply to this

2

YEAH! ITs about time!
Blake says – reply to this

3

FIrst betch!
gezell says – reply to this

4

GOOD!
oscar says – reply to this

5

1st
laurel12 says – reply to this

6

1ST!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????
me says – reply to this

7

first!
dbgngl says – reply to this

8

first!
christine says – reply to this

9

first!
april says – reply to this

10

cool!
erin says – reply to this

11

first!
k says – reply to this

12

first
Posey says – reply to this

13

THAT'S their compromise? All they did was make the United healthcare plan still available, but they didn't change how insanely difficult it is to QUALIFY for it. That's the issue here. Viacom - what fucking douchebags. Thanks Brian Graden! I thought you were a good guy -nice to see you don't give a shit about the company you've helped revolutionize.
stoju says – reply to this

14

first and lovin it
ORLYHI says – reply to this

15

HAHAH 1ST
m says – reply to this

16

good for them!!!
ORLYHI says – reply to this

17

HAHAH 1ST
ORLYHI says – reply to this

18

HAHAH 1ST
just me says – reply to this

19

wOOT
Trixie says – reply to this

20

No, no…don't let them fool you Perez! This isn't much of a "win." Employees who have been with the company for at least a year never lost their health benefits entirely, they just got a much shittier package. And this memo doesn't really saying that's changing. As for employees who haven't been at the company a year yet - WE'RE STILL GETTING TOTALLY SCREWED! DOn't hype it up too much, there's still a lot of work to be done!!!!
Meg says – reply to this

21

How Norma Rae!
^^You Know What Really Grinds My Gears^^ says – reply to this

22

*
*
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Health Insurance??…I dont even know what that is…hahaha All us indie musicians and creative people in L.A. must do without while pursuing our passions…
*
Oh well we are young..We're invincible for a lil while…
*
*
*
erica says – reply to this

23

first…
MyfriendDavio says – reply to this

24

First!
McQueen says – reply to this

25

They should get more.x
sio says – reply to this

26

woohoo
IkeepItreal says – reply to this

27

The commies win again.

This country is going to hell I tell ya.
Nizzle says – reply to this

28

Stupid liberals. FIRST!
Shawna says – reply to this

29

I am soo happy for them
Dan says – reply to this

30

Good for them!!!! YAy!!!! First!!!!
hipster hugging says – reply to this

31

first!
amanda says – reply to this

32

HORRAY : ) great christmas present : )
FLor says – reply to this

33

First! and yes finally. Thanks to all the permalancers for standing out in the cold and fighting for our rights. We are not done yet, we still want our 401k and paid holidays, not to mention vacation time? HELLLLOOOOOOOOOO we are employees! SHAAAAAAAAME ON VIACOM!
cakeee says – reply to this

34

firstttT? monsters….
Mindmesh says – reply to this

35

Well it turns out MTV has no balls.
Flor says – reply to this

36

ITS NOT OVER! Thanks to all the permalancers for standing out in the cold and fighting for our rights. WE will be out there again at 1pm tomorrow. We are not done yet, we still want our 401k and paid holidays, not to mention vacation time? HELLLLOOOOOOOOOO we are employees! SHAAAAAAAAME ON VIACOM!
nice says – reply to this

37

NBC needs to follow suit. I worked for them for three years as such an employee, but was told I was "hired and fired" each day to get around such compensation.
Chris L says – reply to this

38

you people suck
cambel says – reply to this

39

So they've given themselves a year to evaluate the situation, as for extending health benefits, they are extending them to people who WILL be eligible in 2008 at the current level of contribution. What are the threshold qualifications for 2008 eligibility? They conveniently don't outline that. Typical B.S. Perez, ifyou'd ever worked in Corporate America you would have read that a bit closer and not just accepted their word that they'd caved.
mtver says – reply to this

40

wow, if only the writer's strike worked that quickly.
kim says – reply to this

41

Um…they are not done yet…still no paid vacation or holidays…FULL TIME BENEFITS FOR FULL TIME WORK…
under the line says – reply to this

42

It shows that you do not understand the media industry. Do you know how many "freelancers" and "long term temps" working at VFX shops and on production sets do not get health or dental insurance in LA? A whole lot they just by it themselves or their spouses have it from working at another company. This is not big news before the or after they "expanded" the benefits. Please Perez who pays for your health care?
under the line says – reply to this

43

Hey Flor if you don't like them so much quit and work someplace else. People complaining after years of this happening. It is not like you woke up today and they told you this. You have been there for awhile and knew what it was like. If you hate them so much work someplace you can enjoy. Even it you get what you want you will be such the piss ant that will you be a "good" employee after this? Inquiry minds want to know.
thehottestfreelancer says – reply to this

44

we still have to pay out of pocket for them!
SB1 says – reply to this

45

Don't celebrate yet. Viacom will cut jobs before this is all over. I should know - I lost my job when Viacom decided to buy Dreamworks but Viacom employees lost their job. Viacom doesn't care about people - just how green the money is.
Sparko says – reply to this

46

I hate MTV with a passion. Not only do they mistreat their employees they are continuously filling the world with their BS "reality" tv shows. WHO GIVES A FUCK ABOUT SPOILED DOUCHEBAGS?! Go cut your wrists some more MTV.
Anderson Cooper says – reply to this

47

HAHAHAHAHA
hmm, and Perez what will u be best remembered for?
Guys, i want your answers on this one?
It's our one time opportunity so don't hesistate to reply me.
I want lots of replies.
marie says – reply to this

48

Congrats, MTV'ers!!! Si se puede!
hOmOs says – reply to this

49

MTV Sucks. BUNCH OF FUCKING FLAMING HOMOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs

hOmOs
johnrreed says – reply to this

50

viacom are pigs.
their racist, sexist, sleazy, militaristic garbage is poison
really damaging young minds, and obviously, its employees
keep up the walkouts, it works in france
TP says – reply to this

51

It's strange, I was a permalancer at MTV when it was still MTV (Music) TV. This was back in the early 90's. At the time, we were all very quickly moved to staff after MTV was told it would be fined for classifying it's STAFF as freelance when they worked in an ongoing capacity 5 days week/60+ hours (for shit $$$). Within two weeks, everyone was turned into fulltimers (I was in Production Management). Unfortunately, they still payed shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I always said, it was the best 2 year internship "type" job. I've used their name and the cool programs we worked on (Day in Rock, House of Style, Rockumentary, etc..) to secure future employment.

So, I'd say to anyone who works at MTV, do the two years to build on your street cred and then get the fuck out and make some money.

Happy Holidays.
who gives a shit about being 1st? says – reply to this

52

51st!!!
long time? says – reply to this

53

So what, do you have to work for 10 years as a freelancer before they pay benefits?
wayfoxy says – reply to this

54

If we had universal health care much of this issue would be a moot point!!
britt says – reply to this

55

i really adore how it says merry whatever happy 08'
Bert says – reply to this

56

i wouldnt pay the bitches a penny until they showed some loyalty. capitalism rules biches.
Smartees says – reply to this

57

Thats really great! In order to receive 25% more in compensation, all they had to do was pick what 25% of these disposable temps to fire. Good job looking at the big picture.
john dixon says – reply to this

58

Who the fuck cares about these NOBODIES. This site is supposed to be about celebrities, not permalancers or whatever the hell you call it. More Lindsay and Britney!!!!
Jean McD says – reply to this

59

Welcome to the 21st century, Viacom
COCO says – reply to this

60

Merry Whatever? It's Christmas…Not wahtever….They are really assholes…
Justin says – reply to this

61

I read on some other sites about how you used to be a big meth head Perez.

I read about how you stole a friend's paycheck and forged it into your own name so you could buy meth(where are all the drawn on coke dots going up your nose?)

I also saw a site where they posted your old personals profile and you claimed that nasty thing hanging between you legs is 9 inches(LOL) and you claimed that you were a TOP(HAHAHAHA….yeah right!)

You're a former methhead turned fatass liar thief!
not retarded says – reply to this

62

Disney doesn't provide benefits for their permatemps…in fact, they've recently adjusted their policy to extend them from 9 to 15 month commitments before they're forced to hire/fire.
Abbie says – reply to this

63

I'm really happy for them but if you're trying to make a point like that, don't wear a Northface jacket, it's hypocritical.
cloey says – reply to this

64

can someone tell me what the hell first means???
bl0ndieNYC says – reply to this

65

congrats & good luck with the rest of ur demands. hopefully the WGA will make some progress too. my TiVo is slow, I miss my shows.
sumner redstone is a virgin! says – reply to this

66

this isn't victory… who says they won't do it again. f*ck viacom! the walk out is on tomorrow!
eastcoastgossip says – reply to this

67

it seems fair……….for now. congrats permalancers!
jj says – reply to this

68

Just noticed how much MARTHA STEWART looks like PARIS HILTON as an older woman!!!
kjkjjkd sdf sd says – reply to this

69

arse
VIACOM STILL SUCKS! says – reply to this

70

VIACOM HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SCREWING THEIR WORKERS. DON'T LET THE WORD "TEMP" FOOL YOU. MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR YEARS WORKING 60+ HOURS PER WEEK AND GETTING JACK SHIT FOR COMPENSATION OR HEALTHCARE. TRUST ME…THERE ARE MUCH BETTER PLACES TO WORK - IT IS NOT WORTH IT TO WORK FOR A GREEDY COMPANY LIKE VIACOM. LETS TALK ABOUT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS - RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A 3RD WORLD COUNRY TO SEE WHAT CORRUPTION DOES TO REAL PEOPLE.
Jessi says – reply to this

71

Why is it an employers job to do anything other than pay your wage? Employers should not be held at gunpoint forced to give you a health plan. It is possible to get one on your own.
Barbara says – reply to this

72

Viacom is cheap fucking company that totally takes advatage and abuses their employees. they need to be doing a lot more!
JLynn says – reply to this

73

At least Viacom's freelancers are even getting SOME benefits. I've worked for a network for 1 1/2 years now and all i've gotten is: "This company doesn't owe you anything!" So much for company morale, huh? So I say kudos to Viacom for even realizing their freelancers' worth!!
marissa says – reply to this

74

thats a great photograph.
kate says – reply to this

75

Sumner Redstone owner of Viacom has more mone than God but he is a cheap ass bitch I used to work for his original compay National Amusments in Dedham MA It is the parent company of everything else he owns CHEAP CHEAP