Politics 28000 Layoffs coming to Disney's domestic theme parks - statement from Josh D'Amaro

[eliza61nyc]

I don’t even know what point you are trying to make. That all wdw employees should have expected to be laid off despite their 20-30+ years with the company?

I don’t even know what point you are trying to make. That all wdw employees should have expected to be laid off despite their 20-30+ years with the company?

I think that the job seeker of today is way more realistic than folks on this forum are. Most recognize that unless you get some type of federal, state ,city government job or a unionized job ( teacher, fireman, police) that there is no thing as job security. If you work for a major corporation like Disney, Dow chemicals, HP etc you know for the most part your job is based upon corporate Bean counters.
To act like this is 1965 is a delusion, so no you may not expect to be paid off but you do have to look at the economic situation realistically. DISNEY is not exempted.

I was furloughed for 2 months early in the pandemic, not one person was surprised. Come on, companies are not going to keep 10k people on the books and they weren't even able to work. Personally we were happy they agreed to keep our benefits. I'm not saying it isn't horrible sad, I hate what this pandemic is done to the economy. My oldest son just went and recertificatied for his CDL. Said that if he gets laid off he can easily go back to driving and make a living wage

 

[Goofyernmost]

Disney used to have "creatives" in high level, influential leadership positions. What you are seeing is what happens when leadership is comprised almost exclusively of business school grads.

Yea, those business school grads are the worst. Wait, I'm a business school grad and we were trained to recognize exactly what it takes to make a business successful and it always fell to sufficient numbers of skilled people to keep things running smoothly and effectively. I think you are trying to say 'when leadership is comprised almost exclusively of cost accountants and retail store clerks.'

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Yea, those business school grads are the worst.

I agree!!!

 

[Mr Mindcrime]

Yea, those business school grads are the worst. Wait, I'm a business school grad and we were trained to recognize exactly what it takes to make a business successful and it always fell to sufficient numbers of skilled people to keep things running smoothly and effectively. I think you are trying to say 'when leadership is comprised almost exclusively of cost accountants and retail store clerks.'

Thanks for interpreting what I was trying to say....unfortunately that's not what I was trying to say at all. I'm a business school grad myself (pretty famous school in Philadelphia) and a CFO with a CPA license (i.e. bean counter). I completely understand the necessary roles of business school grads. But in my years of experience I've also learned that companies that only rely on bean counters making decisions usually aren't the best companies. A company has to focus and give equal weight to operations and sales and in Disney's case creative products (whether it be movies or theme parks). Sometimes a few, extra beans are worth it for the overall good and longevity of the company. Goofy, let's check back in a couple of years and see if focusing only on the bottom line at the expense of the core product, paid off. The "core product" in this discussion being more than just an amusement park, but rather a theme park resort with lots of tasty little extras.

 

[DCBaker]

"According to an FAQ posted by the union, 1,351 Cast Members will be laid off that previously had positions at various Disneyland attractions. Per the union contract, this puts a lot of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cast Members at risk."

"Layoffs are determined by seniority, and a significant amount of Cast Members transferred over from Disney California Adventure (DCA) to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. Per the terms of the union contract, those Cast Members would lose their previous seniority because DCA and Disneyland are “separate and distinct entities”.

While Local 495 didn’t specify just how many Cast Members would be laid off per “land”, seniority at Disneyland was given to Cast Members who had worked within Disneyland before March 2018. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in May 2019, putting all transfers from DCA at risk. Cast Members who transferred within Disneyland are not at risk, per the terms negotiated by the union."

Disneyland Union Details More Than 1,400 Attraction Cast Member Layoffs, Galaxy's Edge Cast Members at Unique Risk

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

 

[nickys]

"According to an FAQ posted by the union, 1,351 Cast Members will be laid off that previously had positions at various Disneyland attractions. Per the union contract, this puts a lot of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cast Members at risk."

"Layoffs are determined by seniority, and a significant amount of Cast Members transferred over from Disney California Adventure (DCA) to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. Per the terms of the union contract, those Cast Members would lose their previous seniority because DCA and Disneyland are “separate and distinct entities”.

While Local 495 didn’t specify just how many Cast Members would be laid off per “land”, seniority at Disneyland was given to Cast Members who had worked within Disneyland before March 2018. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in May 2019, putting all transfers from DCA at risk. Cast Members who transferred within Disneyland are not at risk, per the terms negotiated by the union."

Disneyland Union Details More Than 1,400 Attraction Cast Member Layoffs, Galaxy's Edge Cast Members at Unique Risk

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

That’s crazy, and devastating for those involved. Does that happen at WDW too, CMs switched between parks lose seniority and have to start again “building” it?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Separate and destinct my Mickey ears!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney used to have "creatives" in high level, influential leadership positions. What you are seeing is what happens when leadership is comprised almost exclusively of business school grads.

Wharton let’s fools in if they THINK you’ll donate later...

(There’s a joke there )

 

[asianway]

"According to an FAQ posted by the union, 1,351 Cast Members will be laid off that previously had positions at various Disneyland attractions. Per the union contract, this puts a lot of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cast Members at risk."

"Layoffs are determined by seniority, and a significant amount of Cast Members transferred over from Disney California Adventure (DCA) to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. Per the terms of the union contract, those Cast Members would lose their previous seniority because DCA and Disneyland are “separate and distinct entities”.

While Local 495 didn’t specify just how many Cast Members would be laid off per “land”, seniority at Disneyland was given to Cast Members who had worked within Disneyland before March 2018. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in May 2019, putting all transfers from DCA at risk. Cast Members who transferred within Disneyland are not at risk, per the terms negotiated by the union."

Disneyland Union Details More Than 1,400 Attraction Cast Member Layoffs, Galaxy's Edge Cast Members at Unique Risk

Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond

blogmickey.com

I’m assuming this goes back to DCA opening? If there is no reciprocity between the contracts, why would anyone have ever moved from DL to DCA in 2000? @Darkbeer1 any insight?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That’s crazy, and devastating for those involved. Does that happen at WDW too, CMs switched between parks lose seniority and have to start again “building” it?

Unless the rules have changed...seniority is based on hire dates in most locations...it doesn’t reset during transfers

Still...often fresh blood can be just as useful as experience...there won’t be any “fresh blood” left. That’s unfortunate

 

[asianway]

Unless the rules have changed...seniority is based on hire dates in most locations...it doesn’t reset during transfers

Still...often fresh blood can be just as useful as experience...there won’t be any “fresh blood” left. That’s unfortunate

I believe it resets if you change unions

 

[-em]

I believe it resets if you change unions

If it’s STCU then no- not sure of the others. A few jobs have seniority date ‘suppression’ for a period of time after transfer but most don’t (I haven’t heard if this affects displacement because that union hasn’t been as transparent)
A 15 year culinary cast will have 15 year seniority in attractions or merchandise.

seniority date is upon becoming Full Time within the union not necessarily your hire date. Very few people original hire date = seniority date.

That is beyond depressing with the Edge ‘West’ cast because as they were probably all hand selected they are among the best of the best..

 

[eliza61nyc]

Thanks for interpreting what I was trying to say....unfortunately that's not what I was trying to say at all. I'm a business school grad myself (pretty famous school in Philadelphia) and a CFO with a CPA license (i.e. bean counter). I completely understand the necessary roles of business school grads. But in my years of experience I've also learned that companies that only rely on bean counters making decisions usually aren't the best companies. A company has to focus and give equal weight to operations and sales and in Disney's case creative products (whether it be movies or theme parks). Sometimes a few, extra beans are worth it for the overall good and longevity of the company. Goofy, let's check back in a couple of years and see if focusing only on the bottom line at the expense of the core product, paid off. The "core product" in this discussion being more than just an amusement park, but rather a theme park resort with lots of tasty little extras.

Lol all I'll say is that, that has been a familiar refrain here for decades. " Just wait a few years_____" every time there is a change the old guard doesn't like. The old "Disney is becoming a six flags" has been predicted for decades now.
And basically it's taken a global pandemic to kill attendance.

So I'm betting on the house, 10 years from now Disney will be packed to the gills and we'll be complaining about crowds again
Now who knows, I've a number of friends who are regular Disney visitors and haven't heard anyone think it's like every other amusement park but they didn't go in the 70-90's so maybe they have nothing to compare it to.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Thanks for interpreting what I was trying to say....unfortunately that's not what I was trying to say at all. I'm a business school grad myself (pretty famous school in Philadelphia) and a CFO with a CPA license (i.e. bean counter). I completely understand the necessary roles of business school grads. But in my years of experience I've also learned that companies that only rely on bean counters making decisions usually aren't the best companies. A company has to focus and give equal weight to operations and sales and in Disney's case creative products (whether it be movies or theme parks). Sometimes a few, extra beans are worth it for the overall good and longevity of the company. Goofy, let's check back in a couple of years and see if focusing only on the bottom line at the expense of the core product, paid off. The "core product" in this discussion being more than just an amusement park, but rather a theme park resort with lots of tasty little extras.

Were your records sealed?

 

[mwf5555]

Sounds like things may be getting political now...

has she gotten any answers?

 

[Robbiem]

Thanks for interpreting what I was trying to say....unfortunately that's not what I was trying to say at all. I'm a business school grad myself (pretty famous school in Philadelphia) and a CFO with a CPA license (i.e. bean counter). I completely understand the necessary roles of business school grads. But in my years of experience I've also learned that companies that only rely on bean counters making decisions usually aren't the best companies. A company has to focus and give equal weight to operations and sales and in Disney's case creative products (whether it be movies or theme parks). Sometimes a few, extra beans are worth it for the overall good and longevity of the company. Goofy, let's check back in a couple of years and see if focusing only on the bottom line at the expense of the core product, paid off. The "core product" in this discussion being more than just an amusement park, but rather a theme park resort with lots of tasty little extras.

Since the 2008 crash I’ve seen a lot of this in action. Where I worked in transportation we were flooded with MBA type grads who would have gone into financial areas previously. A lot of these didn’t care about the business in the way people who joined previously did and didn't care about the service aspects of the job or take time to understand the people.

the relentless targets and cutting created a culture of fear and back stabbing as people became more and more scared of being laid off in the yearly reorg and culls. Rather than motivating people people did the bear minimum to get by and all the years of good will were lost along with productivity Eventually after several battles against some of these people I lost my job in a cull and ended up having a breakdown which I’ve not really fully recovered from.

please dont get me wring I’m not anti MBA but what you need is a balance of all talents. When one becomes dominant it usually leads to a fall and I fear thats what Disney is going through now

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Since the 2008 crash I’ve seen a lot of this in action. Where I worked in transportation we were flooded with MBA type grads who would have gone into financial areas previously. A lot of these didn’t care about the business in the way people who joined previously did and didn't care about the service aspects of the job or take time to understand the people.

the relentless targets and cutting created a culture of fear and back stabbing as people became more and more scared of being laid off in the yearly reorg and culls. Rather than motivating people people did the bear minimum to get by and all the years of good will were lost along with productivity Eventually after several battles against some of these people I lost my job in a cull and ended up having a breakdown which I’ve not really fully recovered from.

please dont get me wring I’m not anti MBA but what you need is a balance of all talents. When one becomes dominant it usually leads to a fall and I fear thats what Disney is going through now

You’re describing EXACTLY what has happened to TWDC...

Slowly dating to the mid 90’s...rapidly accelerating the last 10+ years

 

[Communicora]

Since the 2008 crash I’ve seen a lot of this in action. Where I worked in transportation we were flooded with MBA type grads who would have gone into financial areas previously. A lot of these didn’t care about the business in the way people who joined previously did and didn't care about the service aspects of the job or take time to understand the people.

the relentless targets and cutting created a culture of fear and back stabbing as people became more and more scared of being laid off in the yearly reorg and culls. Rather than motivating people people did the bear minimum to get by and all the years of good will were lost along with productivity Eventually after several battles against some of these people I lost my job in a cull and ended up having a breakdown which I’ve not really fully recovered from.

please dont get me wring I’m not anti MBA but what you need is a balance of all talents. When one becomes dominant it usually leads to a fall and I fear thats what Disney is going through now

I agree. The rise of the professional managerial class has not been great for American companies and organizations. You see the same situation growing in arts institutions now. Many of these folks don't have a commitment to the mission of the organization. Their primary commitment is to their own advancement. Institutional knowledge is lost, the quality of the "product" suffers and the other workers don't have the same opportunities to rise through the ranks like they used to.

 

[MisterPenguin]

has she gotten any answers?

Yes.

To the question, "Why are you firing so many low wage workers when you have reinstated full and exorbitant executive pay along with exorbitant stock bonuses and have been involved in excessive buybacks of stocks and giving out dividends and sitting on billions of dollars of reserves?"

Disney has answered: "Our parks are safe for guests."

Done!

 

[crispy]

I agree. The rise of the professional managerial class has not been great for American companies and organizations. You see the same situation growing in arts institutions now. Many of these folks don't have a commitment to the mission of the organization. Their primary commitment is to their own advancement. Institutional knowledge is lost, the quality of the "product" suffers and the other workers don't have the same opportunities to rise through the ranks like they used to.

To add to that, by the time the excrement starts to hit the fan, those "leaders" are already out the door wreaking havoc on another organization that offered them more money. Yeah, I think we have all definitely seen this type of "leadership" in action before.