Disney workers to protest contract talks

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Job Security. Isn't that the big thing that everyone is supposidly worried about anymore? Jeez, I thank God every day that I have the job I have (even though it pays like crap) because if I didn't have a job then I would be in some serious trouble!

Be happy with just having a job at the least (esp one where you KNOW you will be getting raises for the next couple years) while the current economy is so turbulent.

But isn't that the point, the crash has been good for companies driving down wages through fear of job loss at a time when there is massive pressure on households through rising fuel and food prices.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Be happy with just having a job at the least (esp one where you KNOW you will be getting raises for the next couple years) while the current economy is so turbulent.

Does anyone really KNOW for sure that they will be getting raises for the next couple years?

My workplace switched from giving reviews and (hopefully) raises from every 12 months to every 18 months, at least that is how it has been the last 3 years, we don't know if that pattern will continue or not. There is even a rumor that it may be extended to every 24 months.....

 

[raven]

Does anyone really KNOW for sure that they will be getting raises for the next couple years?

Supposed to be getting them. But the current contract that Disney offered the union, the one for the reason of the protest, only gives most of the employees an additional $.70 per week by the end of the 5-year term (due to their healthcare inflation).

On a side note, each union member pays almost $500/year in dues. If all 20,000+ people that are in these jobs are in the union, that's $10 million every year just in dues. So any "raises" that they are fighting for are more than likely going to go right into the officers pockets by raising the cost of dues again. I worked in a $14/hour union job in the past that was only $200 in dues for the year. I really don't understand the reasoning for the one in question to have such a high cost of membership other than to profit from the people that are in it.

 

[googilycub]

When I worked in the private sector (military now), if I didn't like the compensation package, I found a new employer. It's not that difficult of a concept; nobody is forcing them to work where they do.

Agree. I don't get this whole "lets bully the man" concept when "the man" isn't forcing you to work there. Here's what you're offered, if you don't like it, then stay until you find something better. It's what the majority of the workforce has to do anyway!

The jealousy of the union member on this board amazes me.:zipit:

 

[devoy1701]

Does anyone really KNOW for sure that they will be getting raises for the next couple years?

My workplace switched from giving reviews and (hopefully) raises from every 12 months to every 18 months, at least that is how it has been the last 3 years, we don't know if that pattern will continue or not. There is even a rumor that it may be extended to every 24 months.....

The terms of the contract that disney proposed outlined incremental pay raises.

The jealousy of the union member on this board amazes me.:zipit:

oh is that what I am portraying?

 

[Sir_Cliff]

As a non-American, it always amazes me to see the hostility to unions and the lowly workers that arises whenever a Disney union protests a contract offer. People will applaud Disney spending big bucks on attractions, rave about the "magic" provided by CMs, and whinge about any bad service or supposed decline in CMs standards. When these very CMs ask for improvement in their working conditions, however, people really seem to turn nasty and defend the company they spend the rest of the time complaining about for being stingy in virtually every other area of running the parks. It's as if the CMs should just be grateful to be there and live on pixie dust if they have to.

As Raven pointed out, Disney probably can source employees who will take the lower conditions, but we'll all just have to get used to what that means for CM standards. On the issue of people simply wandering from job to job, cherry-picking the best employer: now that is fantasyland. Do away with all labor regulations and see what kind of country you're left with. As it is, the USA has one of if not the highest level of poverty and income inequality in the developed world. There may be a reason for that, and it begins with buying this fantasy that identifies the interests of private capital with those of the individual.

 

[fosse76]

But isn't that the point, the crash has been good for companies driving down wages through fear of job loss at a time when there is massive pressure on households through rising fuel and food prices.

You left out that they are doing this AND making record profits. The gap between the rich and the middle class has NEVER been greater than it is today. And they aren't doing it by creating a good product or by making good business decisions. They do it by cutting corners, laying off workers (which taxes the workload of the workforce that's kept in place), and all for short-term gains. What is wrong with wanting a living wage? If you want people to be working full time, you need to pay them a living wage. I think unions are needed more for unskilled labor than for other groups simply because they CAN be easily replaced. And I get annoyed with people who say "if you don't like it, get another job" as if it is that easy.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

LOL, funny thread with a lot of hot air.

Simple facts.

Disney does not care about the striking employees, they will be replaced no matter what anyone thinks. The people striking, no matter how good they are at their jobs and no matter what they do can be replaced quite easily. 12% unemployment says thats a given.

I would blame the unions for putting these people striking at risk for job loss, I assure you, if and when they do lose their jobs, the union will be done with them.




Jimmy Thick- dream a little dream with me...

 

[wm49rs]

LOL, funny thread with a lot of hot air.




Jimmy Thick- dream a little dream with me...

Well, if there's anyone who knows about hot air....

And I'll get my knowledge of the Disney unions from those around here who actually belong to them.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Simple facts.
.


..

Given the source we couldn't expect anything more.

At not with................

 

[Alektronic]

You left out that they are doing this AND making record profits. The gap between the rich and the middle class has NEVER been greater than it is today. And they aren't doing it by creating a good product or by making good business decisions. They do it by cutting corners, laying off workers (which taxes the workload of the workforce that's kept in place), and all for short-term gains. What is wrong with wanting a living wage? If you want people to be working full time, you need to pay them a living wage. I think unions are needed more for unskilled labor than for other groups simply because they CAN be easily replaced. And I get annoyed with people who say "if you don't like it, get another job" as if it is that easy.

The gap is just like at Disney between salaried and hourly. Disney has big profits, CEO and upper management get raises and bonuses. The hourly CMs are fighting to get a little raise. Look at the compeition, Universal has a great year and gives bonuses to ALL of its employees. So maybe the tide is turning, Universal is developing better attractions and now treating its employees better also.

 

[menamechris]

You left out that they are doing this AND making record profits. The gap between the rich and the middle class has NEVER been greater than it is today. And they aren't doing it by creating a good product or by making good business decisions. They do it by cutting corners, laying off workers (which taxes the workload of the workforce that's kept in place), and all for short-term gains. What is wrong with wanting a living wage? If you want people to be working full time, you need to pay them a living wage. I think unions are needed more for unskilled labor than for other groups simply because they CAN be easily replaced. And I get annoyed with people who say "if you don't like it, get another job" as if it is that easy.

There is no denying much of what you have said is true about our economic situation. But, imo, the "they are making record profits" argument is just as flawed as the "if you don't like it, quit" argument. If we are to use the theory that when a company is making record profits they should be putting it into workers' salaries and bonuses, we would have to accept if profits were DOWN, they can reduce workers' salaries and take away benefits. All Disney employees are making a living wage. But your living wage is not determined by what is left over after you have paid for necessities (i.e. insurance coverage, rent, gas, etc.) People whose jobs do not include the benefit of partial insurance coverage get a bill in the mail like any other bill.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

People will applaud Disney spending big bucks on attractions, rave about the "magic" provided by CMs, and whinge about any bad service or supposed decline in CMs standards. When these very CMs ask for improvement in their working conditions, however, people really seem to turn nasty and defend the company they spend the rest of the time complaining about for being stingy in virtually every other area of running the parks. It's as if the CMs should just be grateful to be there and live on pixie dust if they have to.

I've raised this point before, and it never gets any response.

All other arguments aside, how you reconcile the idea that Disney should be recruiting the most dedicated, customer-oriented, "magical" employees on earth with the idea that those employees should be happy making at or barely above minimum wage is beyond me. I'm still waiting for a thoughtful response to that little puzzle. (Or ANY response!)

 

[DisneyJoe]

All other arguments aside, how you reconcile the idea that Disney should be recruiting the most dedicated, customer-oriented, "magical" employees on earth with the idea that those employees should be happy making at or barely above minimum wage is beyond me. I'm still waiting for a thoughtful response to that little puzzle. (Or ANY response!)

I will answer your question with some questions - how many Disney fanatics want to move to Orlando and work for WDW, almost to the point of not caring what they are paid?

How many college students give up semesters at their schools to work 40++ hours for very little money? How many international students do the same?

 

[wm49rs]

I will answer your question with some questions - how many Disney fanatics want to move to Orlando and work for WDW, almost to the point of not caring what they are paid?

How many college students give up semesters at their schools to work 40++ hours for very little money? How many international students do the same?

Not that many....

And those two groups are participants in college and exchange programs. Bit of an apples to oranges comparison there....

 

[awilliams4]

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.

Raven,

1st, thanks for all your value add to WDW Magic. I always stop and pay attention to your posts as they always seem to include valid news.

On this post however, if they are protesting because their Health Care costs are going up faster than their wages, join the club. I would suspect that is the case with 90% of the rest of the country.

Tough to feel for them especially with the low ball tactics of doing their best to discredit their emplorer by making a mockery of their intellectual property.

If I was there, my loud mouth would definately get me into an argument with the ones trying to put a bad face on Disney.

If they have anything to blame, it is Capitalism, lazy Americans that are a big part of the rising healthcare costs and maybe even.......themselves? They are getting 3% raises for 3 years straight. Not bad in this climate. It is tough to feel for someone protesting the way they are protesting when they are getting raises while much of the country is not. And for those that are not getting raises (or don't even have jobs), guess what, their Health Care costs are going up too.

 

[menamechris]

I've raised this point before, and it never gets any response.

All other arguments aside, how you reconcile the idea that Disney should be recruiting the most dedicated, customer-oriented, "magical" employees on earth with the idea that those employees should be happy making at or barely above minimum wage is beyond me. I'm still waiting for a thoughtful response to that little puzzle. (Or ANY response!)

I do think it is again worth mentioning that the majority of Disney employees are extremely satisfied with their working conditions and treatment by corporate. The union is clearly exceeding in "making a mountain out of a mole hill" considering this entire thread discussion only involves an extremely small percentage of employees....(about 3-4%). So out of over 60,000 WDW employees, everyone is excited about 2,000 not getting exactly what they want.....

 

[ImaYoyo]

The gap is just like at Disney between salaried and hourly. Disney has big profits, CEO and upper management get raises and bonuses. The hourly CMs are fighting to get a little raise. Look at the compeition, Universal has a great year and gives bonuses to ALL of its employees. So maybe the tide is turning, Universal is developing better attractions and now treating its employees better also.

Um... most universal team members got between $100 and $300... Disney is offering $500-$900 in bonuses...

So how is the tide turning?

 

[JEANYLASER]

thanks for the info!

 

[Monty]

There are reasonable arguements on both sides of pro/anti union. But I don't think you can undermine the value of unionization at the time of their inception. Workers had no rights and were treated to some incredibly poor working environments. Similar to the conditions seen now in third world countries.

When the leaders became so powerful, that is when corruption became rampant.

Just a side note( I hope this doesn't get too political) but it would be a lot easier for businesses to pay a living wage if the tremendous burdon of providing health care wasn't so huge.

I agree with this. When unions were created they were definitely needed. Today i'm not so sure, now that we're competing in a global economy where lowering costs and increasing productivity is key, it seems like without unions more money could be taken home by the workers. With OSHA and the variety of other regulatory bodies, substandard working conditions aren't something that unions are needed to protect the workers against because they can be addressed in other ways now.

The Labour movement fought and died for a lot of things that are considered standard practice today.

Workplace safety laws. The two-day weekend. Health care. Reasonable working hours. Decent salaries. Etc...

Guess how long any of those things will last without Unions?

Laws can be changed or rescinded. Globalization isn't a good thing, it's big multi-national conglomerates deliberately abandoning jurisdictions where decent workers get treated with respect and are paid acceptable wages and setting up shop in third world ghettos to undermine everything that the Labour movement has achieved in the first world. Because the almighty dollar puts blinders on the sheep that have some investments, they don't see the inevitable end-game: All production world-wide will be at below-subsistence wages, feeding an elite few who don't care about the squalor that is being forced on people. There will come a day when health care for workers will simply not be available or affordable, because the elite won't care if you die making their Guccis, you're replaceable.

So go ahead, don't fight to try and keep at least the same income, succumb or find another job. Let employers fire all the folks that have topped-out on salary so they can hire children who cost less and aren't "so demanding". Continue to allow your democratically elected leaders to deregulate industry since industry knows better...

Hopefully, I'll be dead before your children are in chains, slaving for the man.