Disney workers to protest contract talks

[Alektronic]

Disney workers to protest contract talks

By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel
1:32 PM EST, February 9, 2011

Some members of Walt Disney World's Service Trades Council, a coalition of unions representing more than 20,000 full-time workers at the giant resort, will stage a demonstration this afternoon to protest stalled contract negotiations with the company.

The demonstrators, some of whom will be dressed up as Disney characters in outfits purchased from costume stores, will be at the Crossroads shopping plaza just beyond Disney World's eastern entrance on County Road 535 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Contract talks between Disney and the Trades Council began more than seven months ago but have been stalled since October, when workers voted down what Disney called its final offer. The two sides are scheduled to meet for a third time with a federal mediator on Friday.

 

[s8film40]

I never have understood why they choose the crossroads area to do this. To me it seems the sidewalk in front of DTD or maybe DHS would have a more dramatic impact as it's closer to something Disney. The 535/Hotel Plaza Blvd. is just a busy intersection and many don't even notice.

 

[wdwfan22]

I never have understood why they choose the crossroads area to do this. To me it seems the sidewalk in front of DTD or maybe DHS would have a more dramatic impact as it's closer to something Disney. The 535/Hotel Plaza Blvd. is just a busy intersection and many don't even notice.

Anything past the entrance gates is Disney property and they can have you arrested for trespassing.

 

[828tnt]

I never have understood why they choose the crossroads area to do this. To me it seems the sidewalk in front of DTD or maybe DHS would have a more dramatic impact as it's closer to something Disney. The 535/Hotel Plaza Blvd. is just a busy intersection and many don't even notice.

maybe it wouldn't come off very well if it were on property? besides, disney could likely just have them leave since it's on their business.:shrug:

 

[menamechris]

The demonstrators, some of whom will be dressed up as Disney characters in outfits purchased from costume stores, will be at the Crossroads shopping plaza just beyond Disney World's eastern entrance on County Road 535 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Nothing like making yourself look foolish while trying to be taken seriously....

 

[s8film40]

Anything past the entrance gates is Disney property and they can have you arrested for trespassing.

Buena Vista Dr. is a public road. Disney does not own the property and has no right to ask them to leave as long as they don't leave the sidewalk. The Swan & Dolphin employees used Buena Vista Dr. when they went on strike.

 

[menamechris]

I never have understood why they choose the crossroads area to do this. To me it seems the sidewalk in front of DTD or maybe DHS would have a more dramatic impact as it's closer to something Disney. The 535/Hotel Plaza Blvd. is just a busy intersection and many don't even notice.

The reason for this is simply because: 1) They don't have to worry at all about Disney doing anything if they are outside the property lines - public sidewalk or not. 2) All news crews report from that eastern entrance. If they want news crews to come out and report (which they will), they have to be at that entrance to be seen. News crews will not go on Disney property to report.

 

[devoy1701]

so many things to say but it always get's these threads locked. I just hope that the Union is willing to work with Disney's offer this time instead of stiff-arming. Don't they know that unemployement in Florida is 12%?

 

[TP2000]

Nothing like making yourself look foolish while trying to be taken seriously....

It's a media trick they learned from the Disneyland Hotel union. The union at the Disneyland Hotel has been without a contract for 3 years now, and their union has been staging stunts on the public streets around Disneyland since 2008. The favorite tactic in '09 and '10 was to get union organizers to dress up like Disney Characters, block city streets and force themselves to be arrested in front of the news cameras dressed as Mickey Mouse or Snow White or Buzz Lightyear.

"Mickey Mouse" arrested on Harbor Blvd. in front of Disneyland

The media ate it up the first few times they did it. But it's been three years now since their contract expired January 31, 2008 and the Disneyland Hotel union still won't agree to Disney's offers. The media has kind of stopped covering their plight now. They've dressed up several times, they did the hunger strike on the sidewalk for a week, they've had rock bands perform for the protesters in the street, etc. Short of bungee jumping from the Goodyear Blimp hovering over World of Color, I'm not sure what else they could do to get the media to cover them again.

 

[raven]

Nothing like making yourself look foolish while trying to be taken seriously....

It get's passersby attention quickly about who they work for.

so many things to say but it always get's these threads locked. I just hope that the Union is willing to work with Disney's offer this time instead of stiff-arming. Don't they know that unemployement in Florida is 12%?

Disney's offer was to give a raise BUT hike up health care. At the end of the 5 year contract, long-time workers would be making less than they are today. That is the reason for the protest.

The unemplyed is mainly local US-born residents that can't get jobs because companies are taking tax incentives for hiring foreigners. Also, due to the tourism industry in Orlando, a lot of companies in the area want biligual people. If you don't know anything but english you pretty much get dropped to the bottom of the list.

 

[menamechris]

It get's passersby attention quickly about who they work for.

That's very true, but imo, it's a very flawed tactic. Everyone in our community is very aware of the "pending strike". Our local news has reported on it at nauseam. And it certainly doesn't earn empathy from people here. I understand they have their reasons, but maturity really does go a long way for public support and opinion. Just my two cents.. :wave:

 

[devoy1701]

It get's passersby attention quickly about who they work for.



Disney's offer was to give a raise BUT hike up health care. At the end of the 5 year contract, long-time workers would be making less than they are today. That is the reason for the protest.

Seriously Raven. Health care costs are going up for everyone everywhere in this country. At my own company we got a 5% discount on our annual costs for taking a health assessment and doing a wellness checkup, but our costs went up 7% this year so it's not really a discount. It's not like Disney is doing this just to despite the union members at and it's not JUST the union members at Disney who are getting increased costs!

And yes, the union members should be happy with the raise. Most companies have had a pay freeze in place for the past 2 years, despite inflation in food prices and a decline in the value of the dollar causes gas to go up! Some are even experience pay cuts (see the many stories about state employees and budgets lately). Some states are also seeing pay cuts, increased health care costs AND increased taxes.

So in my eyes, the a contract that includes a series of raises over the next 3 years isn't bad considering the economic climate.

 

[Monty]

Interesting seeing a thread that says the Disney company's profits are up 54% and yet they're blaming the economy for their net-economic loss offer to their employees.

I can empathize with employees not being happy with the offer.

 

[raven]

Seriously Raven. Health care costs are going up for everyone everywhere in this country. It's not like Disney is doing this just to despite the union members at and it's not JUST the union members at Disney who are getting increased costs!

And yes, the union members should be happy with the raise. So in my eyes, the a contract that includes a series of raises over the next 3 years isn't bad considering the economic climate.

Yes. They cannot help health insurance hikes. But they can offset that by adjusting the raises. The raises in the past have all offset the cost. This time it doesn't. So at the end of 5 years, personally speaking, I would be making the same exact wage as when I came into the company many years ago. Someone working the same job for that long with no extra money in their paycheck is the issue.

 

[menamechris]

Yes. They cannot help health insurance hikes. But they can offset that by adjusting the raises. The raises in the past have all offset the cost. This time it doesn't. So at the end of 5 years, personally speaking, I would be making the same exact wage as when I came into the company many years ago. Someone working the same job for that long with no extra money in their paycheck is the issue.

Well, i think we can all agree that costs are inflating faster than standard of living adjustments. Taxes work the same way, though, people just don't understand them. If your "pay raise" is bumped one dollar into the next tax bracket, you will be paying significantly more taxes, eating up not only your raise, but can actually make you paycheck less than what it was. (I know because this happened to me last year). Did I go picket at Tallahassee?

It really stinks, but ultimately, the companies we work for are not responsible for our health care coverage. It's called a benefit for a reason. I think in a few years, this will be resolved by corporations separating themselves from insurance coverage. Because frankly, I think this is happening everywhere - not just at Disney.

 

[amejr999]

Well, i think we can all agree that costs are inflating faster than standard of living adjustments. Taxes work the same way, though, people just don't understand them. If your "pay raise" is bumped one dollar into the next tax bracket, you will be paying significantly more taxes, eating up not only your raise, but can actually make you paycheck less than what it was. (I know because this happened to me last year). Did I go picket at Tallahassee?

Uh, no. We have a marginal tax system. As you enter the next tax bracket, only the income above the limit of the first bracket is taxed at the higher rate.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Reminds me of a good story.

Once upon a time there was a auto plant where getting a job there was easy, you started at 18.00 dollars an hour, and this was back in the 90's, and you did worked hard and paid your union dues and lived happily ever after.

Until...

The auto manufactorer decided they were paying too much to people who had been there a long time and asked for a wage freeze for the older employees, and the new hires to make less, but by no means anything unreasonable. The union said, no way.

And the auto company left town and sacked all those employees and the town where this all happened will never recover financially.

Sometimes a job is better than no job.


Jimmy Thick- Don't know what you got...Till its gone...

 

[wm49rs]

Reminds me of a good story.

Once upon a time there was a auto plant where getting a job there was easy, you started at 18.00 dollars an hour, and this was back in the 90's, and you did worked hard and paid your union dues and lived happily ever after.

Until...

The auto manufactorer decided they were paying too much to people who had been there a long time and asked for a wage freeze for the older employees, and the new hires to make less, but by no means anything unreasonable. The union said, no way.

And the auto company left town and sacked all those employees and the town where this all happened will never recover financially.

Sometimes a job is better than no job.


Jimmy Thick- Don't know what you got...Till its gone...

If only that little anecdote was applicable here....

And maybe not, but we would all be willing to try.

 

[Monty]

Reminds me of a good story.

Once upon a time there was a auto plant where getting a job there was easy, you started at 18.00 dollars an hour, and this was back in the 90's, and you did worked hard and paid your union dues and lived happily ever after.

Until...

The auto manufactorer decided they were paying too much to people who had been there a long time and asked for a wage freeze for the older employees, and the new hires to make less, but by no means anything unreasonable. The union said, no way.

And the auto company left town and sacked all those employees and the town where this all happened will never recover financially.

Sometimes a job is better than no job.


Jimmy Thick- Don't know what you got...Till its gone...

You missed the "...and the auto manufacturer continued to pay exorbitant bonuses to their Managers and show massive profits" part of your little story.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Sometimes a job is better than no job.

..

Providing your the one cutting the pay.

As always Richard Cranium