Disney workers to protest contract talks

[Master Yoda]

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.

While I am no fan of unions I do believe that they are a necessary evil. Without them I fear it would not take long for large companies to return to the days of old. I would agree that it would more than likely never get as bad as it was but there is still quite a bit of distance to fall.

It is not unlike what we are seeing in vaccines today. Very few us us can remember how many people died or were permanently effected every year by diseases that most doctors practicing medicine today have never even seen. We began to think that we don't need them anymore and people stopped getting them. All of a sudden extinct diseases like whooping cough and measles start showing up again.

If unions were gone tomorrow it would not take long before the average lower to even middle class worker was noting more than a "get from the lowest bidder" commodity.

 

[Alektronic]

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

So how is the tide turning?

Disney used to be the best employer to work for, not anymore. By slowly eliminating more perks and benefits.

Universal offering better benefits and now giving bonuses to "ALL" employees not just some, maybe Universal just appreciates its employees more!

Disney is just offering bonuses to SOME cast members, only if you covered by that contract and not topped out, so if you worked there for more than 4-5 years, then you don't get the bonus.

 

[njDizFan]

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Laws can be changed or rescinded.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.

Harsh but true. The one thing that globalization has succeeding in doing is creating a new class of people. The working poor. Popping up in countries like India and southeast Asia. They can now scrimp and save so they can become consumers of unneccesary Chinease merchandise.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

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.....

How could 3-4% of unhappy employees keep the remaining 96-97% from ratifying a contract?

 

[Alektronic]

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.....

When you say "The union" who are you referring to? Is it a specific union or are you grouping them all together as one and saying that they all act the same?

When you say " the majority of Disney employees are extremely satisfied with their working conditions and treatment by corporate" Where did you get that info?

"extremely small percentage of employees" covered by the Service Trades Council contract is approximately 27,000 CM's. Hardly extremely small.

 

[wm49rs]

How could 3-4% of unhappy employees keep the remaining 96-97% from ratifying a contract?

Especially when the protesters are members of the Services Trade Council, which represents 20,000 employees, as the article stated:

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.

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.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

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?

On the first point, I'm assuming your conclusion is that Disney remains competitive in the labor market because of the unique (some might say blind) dedication it inspires in would-be employees? There's probably a lot of truth to that. But presumably it's when enough of those "pixie dusted" employees get tired of working conditions that you end up with a situation like this one. If a clear majority of workers didn't care about money, there wouldn't be any need for protracted negotiations.

Your point about cheap college labor actually plays into the larger point I was trying to make. Some of those kids really get into their roles (I was one), but a lot of them just view it as a chance to get away from home and party.

What happens when Disney realizes that it can fill more and more of its front line roles with college students for a lot cheaper than now? Will the same people defending Disney's wage structure now be happy to encounter a constant stream of surly, apathetic undergrads throughout the parks? Or will they come on these boards and whine about "declining by degrees" and "disappearing magic"?

All I'm trying to do is bring to light what looks to me like a "calorie free chocolate cake" mentality among the fan community.

 

[menamechris]

Especially when the protesters are members of the Services Trade Council, which represents 20,000 employees, as the article stated:

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.

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.

The Service Trades Council is a coalition of six separate unions that represent the 20,000 workers. The unions that are not pleased are transportation, and merchandising. That is a small portion of that 20,000 workers. And not even all of the transportation castmembers are upset with the deal - it is only the bus drivers. The Council would work where they will try to pressure other non-affected union members to "join the cause" even if it isn't necessarily in their best interest.

 

[wm49rs]

And yet they continue to act and negotiate as one. Hence the term "union".....

 

[menamechris]

"extremely small percentage of employees" covered by the Service Trades Council contract is approximately 27,000 CM's. Hardly extremely small.

According to the Orlando Sentinel - its 20,000 cast members are memebrs of the council.

As you can read from the article here, not all members are unpleased with the deal. They are members of the council, clearly, because it applies to them, but...well, you can read the article...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...workers-service-trades-council-disney-workers

 

[menamechris]

http://www.wftv.com/news/26830998/detail.html

Hopefully, this means it will be over soon...

 

[raven]

All Disney employees are making a living wage.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that. As someone whose been laid off in the past 5 different times due to economic cut-backs, I can tell you that I have worked harder as a CM than at any of those other jobs. The problem is that I also made $4 more/hour in those other jobs as well than what I am getting now. But those jobs were all eliminated.

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.....

20,000 not 2,000.

When something bad happens to a coworker it effects everyone. Favoritism, racial favoritism, unfair discipline and even distasteful moves by management all come into play nearly every day in some departments. Upper management will take the employees complaint but do nothing about it. On my last shift they walked out an american employee for not doing something on his job that several other foreign people in my department never do, and management knows it. How can that not effect me?

The Service Trades Council is a coalition of six separate unions that represent the 20,000 workers. The unions that are not pleased are transportation, and merchandising. That is a small portion of that 20,000 workers.

The union that you see protesting on the news doesn't just cover transportation and merchandise employees.

And for those that say those jobs can easily be replaced, yes it's true. As I have stated before that the people lined up for those jobs, that Disney wants to fill them with, do not live up to your guest expectations of a CM. 80% of my department is already filled with them and a few of us americans are sent to complete their job every day because they simply don't do it. Why am I expected to do twice as much work and cover their backsides just because I am an american? Especially when a lot of them have been in this job for 5-15 years.

 

[raven]

http://www.wftv.com/news/26830998/detail.html

Hopefully, this means it will be over soon...

Spotted a coworker in that picket line! :sohappy:

 

[menamechris]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that. As someone whose been laid off in the past 5 different times due to economic cut-backs, I can tell you that I have worked harder as a CM than at any of those other jobs. The problem is that I also made $4 more/hour in those other jobs as well than what I am getting now. But those jobs were all eliminated.

Wow, sorry that happened to you. Being laid off seriously sucks. I know. What do we define as a living wage? Certainly you aren't at poverty level. Is anyone working at Disney? I get it - we all have the same goal when we work - we want to be paid as much as we possibly can for our time and hours. But eventually, we all hit a ceiling and have to work to be promoted, if we want to see our pay to move up. It comes down to love of job? or love of the paycheck?

When something bad happens to a coworker it effects everyone. Favoritism, racial favoritism, unfair discipline and even distasteful moves by management all come into play nearly every day in some departments. Upper management will take the employees complaint but do nothing about it. On my last shift they walked out an american employee for not doing something on his job that several other foreign people in my department never do, and management knows it. How can that not effect me?

This is hard to respond to, because its personal to you. But is there not a single cast member that may feel different than you? i would venture to bet, as in ANY job and ANY company, we are looking out for ourselves and ultimately want whats best for us and our families. As far as some sort of racial bias, I personally would keep going up the management chain if it is thatg serious of an issue. I would be writing letters and copying The Orlando Sentinel and all news outlets on it, citing examples. I would be bringing it up to all those people (maybe even union leaders?) who are supposed to be looking out for and defending against things like that...

What we (I hope everyone in this thread) can agree upon is that I do want the absolute best for every cast member of Disney. You guys work hard, and do a great job, no matter what your job description. I think a lot of frustration comes into play, because we are ALL frustrated with changes in our economic and social climate, whether we work for Disney or not. The difference is that many (most) of us, do not have a union to squabble over fifty cents. We are taking the cut...and hoping for better days in the future. If this ends with everyone shaking hands and being happy, that's awesome; but if not, I don't personally think it's because Disney is an evil empire out to get their employees - I think it is just a sign of the times..

 

[raven]

This is hard to respond to, because its personal to you. But is there not a single cast member that may feel different than you? i would venture to bet, as in ANY job and ANY company, we are looking out for ourselves and ultimately want whats best for us and our families. As far as some sort of racial bias, I personally would keep going up the management chain if it is thatg serious of an issue. I would be writing letters and copying The Orlando Sentinel and all news outlets on it, citing examples. I would be bringing it up to all those people (maybe even union leaders?) who are supposed to be looking out for and defending against things like that...

It's been taken to those levels in the past by coworkers with no results. Most of those people, that I've known, that have filed those complaints have magically vanished from the company somehow. That alone is a threat to anyone that wants to file similar complaints. It sems as if they protect each other with a sacred oath like the Masons or something and there isn't a way around it.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

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!)

Spot on. People seem to get that if you spend more on designing and building an attraction you get a better attraction, but when it comes to paying more for quality employees to give quality service the same connection isn't made. Instead, this mindset seems to hold sway:

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?

... as if the people working at The Pinocchio Village Haus fast food joint or driving a bus from a hotel to a theme park all day are living the dream. Anyway, wm49ers and Wilt Dasney responded to this comment far better than I could.

Thanks also to raven for giving us some first-hand insight into working conditions as a CM.

 

[ImaYoyo]

Disney used to be the best employer to work for, not anymore. By slowly eliminating more perks and benefits.

Universal offering better benefits and now giving bonuses to "ALL" employees not just some, maybe Universal just appreciates its employees more!

Disney is just offering bonuses to SOME cast members, only if you covered by that contract and not topped out, so if you worked there for more than 4-5 years, then you don't get the bonus.

Topped out would be a lot more than 4-5 years.