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So along with the writer’s strike in LA, there’s a pretty awesome grassroots labor action happening right in mid-town Manhattan. A few days ago, hundreds of “freelance” contract workers at MTV walked off the job in response to benefit cuts. It looks like MTV has responded with some minor concessions, but the walkout may continue.

I remember when I first heard of the MTV system of “permalancers,” workers who are officially independent contractors and therefore not employees with benefits, but are pretty much employees in everything but name, I thought that it was a pretty clear violation of labor law. Any thoughts on this from labor lawyers out there?