- cross-posted to:
- iwwunion@lemmy.ml
- brainworms@lemm.ee
- cross-posted to:
- iwwunion@lemmy.ml
- brainworms@lemm.ee
Archive link: http://archive.today/Z5F3X
With one strike already underway, SAG-AFTRA announced Friday that it will seek authorization for a second strike against the major video game companies.
The union has a separate contract with the major video game makers, including Activision and Electronic Arts. The contract was originally due to expire last Nov. 7, but was extended for a year to allow for further discussions. The talks are due to resume on Sept. 26.
In a statement, SAG-AFTRA’s president, Fran Drescher, blasted the video game companies for their “greed and disrespect.”
SAG-AFTRA went on strike against the video game companies in October 2016. The strike lasted 11 months.
This time around, the union is seeking rest periods and safety protections, in addition to the wage increases and AI provisions. The union wants an on-set medic for video games, similar to current provisions in TV and film, and a prohibition against stunts during self-taped auditions.
Ballots are due at 5 p.m. PT on Sept. 25. The union will also hold informational meetings for affected members during the voting period.
US software devs are generally paid a lot more than other countries. Keep in mind we still have to pay for our own health insurance/medical bills, but I don’t know how Germany handles their healthcare and the bills won’t matter for everyone.
In Germany health insurance starts on a certain amount of around 200 euro a month, which you always have to pay, even if unemployed, and then progressively gets more as you earn more. For a normal income 350 would be pretty normal, but your employer pays it in your name. You can also get private insurance if you want something fancier, however the quality is always high any way.
If you’re unemployed or are ill you can get welfare though, and they’ll pay it for you.
What does it look like for you?
Health insurance is largely a benefit. It’s largely cost-prohibitive to do otherwise, and I believe coverage can often be better from your employer than what’s available on the open market.
You still pay for employer-provided coverage, but with your employer covering some portion of the cost. I think my out-of-pocket insurance is ~$300/mo as well, but most insurances will also come with a low-deductable plan that is sometimes, but not always, cheaper depending on how you use your insurance. Insurance only covers some part of a medical bill, and the lower price covers less. There’s a ton of caveats on all of that though.
If you’re unemployed, there are options. You can just go to the hospital without coverage, and apply for income-based relief once you have the bill. You can’t apply before you go though, and you may or may not have your costs covered. Not paying at all of course impacts your credit, but like 90% (number pulled from my ass) of the US has medical debt, and I’ve had landlords for instance straight up tell me that ignore medical debt on the credit report.
There’s some kinda public insurance available. I think it’s largely for retired folks? Idk, I’ve never heard of anyone actually able to use it. You also keep your employers coverage for about a year after you leave, but you have to pay for it still.
That’s sounds actually quite reasonable. Of course you always have people who fall through the net but that is the same here.
I don’t think we have credit reports here, at least I’ve never heard of it and it sounds like a privacy issue.
But ya so back to the original topic, if it’s only 300 usd then that’s the same here pretty much for an average income. So the income over there is still crazy high for devs.
I should add that where I worked was a startup and it’s uncommon to earn so little, and actually what that company did was illegal and they ran into issues with the law later.
Worst kind of jobs here pay like 15 an hour, and for devs it’s a lot more of course.