Found this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this morning. UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) a hospital and insurance conglomerate is laying off 128 transcriptionists.
The most interesting part of the lay off, is that those laid off will be hired by a new firm, who will no longer pay them an hourly wage, but pay them by the line they transcribe. Piece work is what this is. It's how workers were paid in the sweat shops of the late 18th and early 19th century.
So corporations are getting what they want i.e. slave labor.
UPMC laying off 128 transcriptionists
May 21, 2013 3:32 pm
Share with others:
By Steve Twedt / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
UPMC is laying off the 128 transcriptionists in its transcription services department, but spokeswoman Gloria Kreps says all will be offered jobs with Nuance, a Burlington, Mass., company that specializes in voice-recognition software.
"UPMC has worked with Nuance over the past several years in adopting new technology, including Nuance's Dragon voice recognition software," said Ms. Kreps. "This software is improving our efficiency and reducing our need for transcriptionists."
Ann Joyal, spokeswoman for Nuance, said the company will offer transcription services to UPMC and confirmed that all of the UPMC transcriptionists have been offered positions.
"Typically they work from home and working for Nuance would not change their location," she said.
Those jobs will pay differently than the transcriptionists' current jobs: by the line rather than per hour, "so the more they transcribe, the more they get paid," Ms. Joyal said. "We offer full benefits, no waiting period and existing tenure and, because our transcription workforce is virtual and big, no one has to move."
Steve Twedt:
[email protected] or 412-263-1963.
First Published May 21, 2013 11:29 am
Read more:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/upmc-laying-off-100-transcriptionists-688503/#ixzz2Tziwp0kK