Disney World unfairly slammed for wages.

[elisatonks]

the only thing that was false in that article is the amount we make per hour. i wish it was 8.60.....you start at $7.70 as a frontline CM. It might be slightly more if you work in QSFB...

Actually the lowest non tipped starting wage at the moment is $7.45ph (Merch, Parking.) Which is about 20 cents over the min wage. Both universal and seaworld pay bare min wage for many roles, so I feel that disney has been unfairly targeted in the article.

I currently have to live on this wage, and by no means do I expect to work in the same role for the rest of my life. (My dream job is to be a facilitator and eventually planner for disneys Youth education programs, though i am also training to be a teacher at the moment.) I have found that most of the disgruntled CM's are the ones that have failed to take up the opportunities within the company, as there is always opportunities to network and move into various roles within the company, but instead they decide to stay in the same position. I don't expect to be paid $15 an hour to park cars and drive the trams, that would be ridiculous. I will admit my other half and I struggle to make ends meet, but we have learnt to shop wisely and we make use of the free perks we get as part of the job to save on entertainment costs.

 

[MonorailCentral]

Let's pay spot the conservative....

All I'm going to say is paying some oneunder $10/hr to drive a $30 million monorail seems a bit small don't ya think?? But I guess the airline industry does that as well on regional flights....so I shouldn't be surprised.

I will say this, they've ALWAYS paid crap...it's not the fact that you get paid crap...it's all the benefits you get in return...and trust me you can milk that for all it's worth so you're making way more that what you're getting paid. That's the joy of working there...the benefits not the wages.

 

[mkt]

That's the joy of working there...the benefits not the wages.

A maingate pass doesn't pay rent. Although if you charge for "your services" it can pay for a nice dinner.

But then again, you really shouldn't wear a Cast Connection Space Mountain T-shirt out to dinner (although a white guest relations shirt signed out from costuming works well as long as it remains tucked in).

Provided you don't get caught. But if you do get caught, you'll likely get stressed and go drinking. Then you'll feel sick and have to go to the Doctor. At least the health insurance is cheap. Provided you have enough cash left over to pay for the copay.

 

[mkt]

Thinking about the title of this thread. It's completely misleading.

If WDW were to be unfairly slammed about its wages, it would be an article that shows a CM family, with 3 people working full time at WDW (mom, dad, adult child), living paycheck to paycheck, dodging calls from creditors, and still qualifying for government assistance.

And then they'd categorize all CM's as that.

That would be unfairly slamming.

 

[glennatwell1]

Not exactly an unbiased report

Disney Negotiations Start
On Thursday, June 17, 2010, the Service Trades Council Union (STCU) began the process of renegotiating the contract covering 20,000 full-time workers at Walt Disney World. The session began with spokespersons from the Union and Company making opening remarks. The Union stated its position of increasing wages, making healthcare more affordable, protecting Union jobs, improving the pension plan and addressing issues with scheduling. The Company spokesperson said that the Company’s proposals would focus on flexibility to run the business more efficiently and remain true to the 4 key values of the Company: Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency.

The Union held true to its word and made opening proposals that reflected its goals. In contrast, the Company made unfaithful proposals that would drastically change the working conditions at Theme parks and Resorts. What Disney management said, and did, were two different things. Those proposals included:

Eliminating the Pension plan for new hires
Eliminating Arbitration except for grievances involving institutional issues
Allowing the use of more Casual workers (CP, CT, ICP, etc.)
Eliminating the selection process for Coordinators
Changing all Coordinators to be “Relief” Coordinators
Allowing the Company to change scheduling methods and the payroll week without agreement from the Union
Eliminating a guarantee of hours when the Company changes your job classification
Drastically changing and adding restrictions to the call-sick free day policy
Addressing safety by invading your personal life with random drug tests without reasonable cause
Negatively modifying the Holiday procedures
Eliminating health insurance if employees utilize a government option or exchange

If agreed to, these proposals would allow the Company to dictate to you the working conditions of your job. None of these proposals come remotely close to addressing the 4 key values of the Disney Corporation. All of these proposals are serious take away proposals that will adversely affect you and your family. It’s important that all Disney workers stand together for a better future.

The day before negotiations began, almost 100 Local 362 members, in eight different properties, did just that. These leaders of the Union went to the VP or GM of their work area and demanded a fair contract. These workers are leading the way. Disney workers must continue these types of actions to send the message to Disney management that: it’s our hard work and loyalty that makes this Company succeed!

All of these proposals will be addressed at the next “main table” bargaining session scheduled for Tuesday, August 31, 2010. In the meantime, the 6 affiliate Unions, including UNITE HERE! Local 362, will be meeting with the Company to address specifics surrounding job classifications in “Side Letter” bargaining sessions

I would like to see the Disney proposals as they were actually worded. Listed here, they are presented from a definite biased perspective. Many of these points are being done across corporate America as well as government and civil service roles as well. While I do not know the inner workings at Disney, some of theese have been in place for years elsewhere or are basic premises of efficient operations. For example, pensions are becoming a thing of the past, being replaced with voluntary contribution programs (with and without matching) such as 401k and 403b (and others). The ability to change scheduling and payroll cycles without approval from the union allows for financial and systems flexibility to react more quickly in an ever-changing operational environment and is the type of thing that may never even be exercised. The elimination of guaranteed hours may actually allow for the raising of wages in the future because there will now be payment of actualy recognized wages as opposed to wages paid for a schedule only meant to meet a minimum as opposed to where and when the labor is actually needed. Random ILLEGAL drug testing is a fact of life these days and DOES help keep a cleaner (from drug use), safer working environment. It only invades the privacy of those who use ILLEGAL drugs. Otherwise it does not reveal anything about any individual, so there is no privacy invasion. After the recent run of accidents (none of which were attributed to drug use), this seems to me to be an obvious need and I am surprised it is not in place already. Taco Bell does it, every transportation company does it, why shouldn't Disney? Finally, the last entry about insurance will be present in every company going forward. It simply means if you sign up for government provided health insurance, the company will provide their insurance as a secondary plan as you already have coverage. I worked at a publicly-traded company where if your spouse could cover you on their insurance, you were not eligible for the company health plan.

I am not saying that CM's are right where they should be, under or over paid. I am just saying that logical discussion does not involve rhetoric. Some of the people on this thread obviously have agendas (disgruntled current or former CM's), I do not. To find common ground on an issue, emotion and bia needs to be removed. Both sides have their own, as long as they do, common ground can never be found. I am simply a DVC member who has a significant amount of money invested in my Disney experience. Personally, I have met nothing but happy and helpful and friendly CM's in my last 6 visits to WDW. Of course, I do want it to stay that way

 

[glennatwell1]

What is Disney after all?

It's all about the bottom line.

If someone works out as an employee, great, if they don't, dump them and find another. I personally don't think long term employees is what Disney is after, just a stable workforce that lives up to its reputation.

Is investing in employees a good idea? Hell yes, if they did, I think the parks would be better than they are now, and last time I went, I had nothing but an incredible experience. But thats the rub, I had nothing but an incredible experience, and it came from people making 7.35 an hour.

If you were Disney, why would you change that?


Jimmy Thick- Its Six Sigma.

You stated "It's all about the bottom line." as if that is a negative. The BOTTOM LINE is Disney is a BUSINESS, not a social service or government organization. The goal of a publicly traded corporation is to increase shareholder value. That IS the bottom line. The best companies are able to do that while also contributing to the common good, the local community, and providing satisfaction to their employees. Disney has done a good job at each of these at various points in their corporate lifetime. It is not a relaistic expectation that they always be perfect in all these categories when only one is the true goal. We live in a different time now. :brick:

 

[stlbobby]

yeah, you obviously still dont get it.

No backtracking... see you can live in a world where extremes are not the only option.. it is in fact possible. Not to mention the fact that China is far from Socialist, its not even communist.. its totalitarian. Of course you probably dont understand that socialism does not mean communism either, they are in fact a moderation and an extreme. Its like saying Capitalism = Fascism as fascism is the extreme end of capitalism i.e. a corporate run state.

Education will set you free... maybe you should try it?

You are incorrectly mixing and equating political systems with economic systems.

 

[s8film40]

No one is forcing anyone to work at Disney, people CHOOSE to work at Disney, only if you get lucky for Disney to actually hire you. IF the wage is below standard, get a different job that pays better.

If Disney pays so poorly and you have been forced to live on that, why would you allow yourself to suffer?

I think the bigger problem for many Disney employees is not so much the pay, (because as you said they know that going in) but the work environment. Most people realize what they're going to be making before they start and fall into one of two categories, either they love Disney want to be able to work there, experience it for themselves more often, and share it with others or they just can't get a job anywhere else and while they know they can't make it on the pay rate provided by Disney they have no alternative. This creates a real bad work environment, obviously the second category hates their job and probably isn't qualified for it (yes there are people who should not be operating a Dumbo ride). Meanwhile the other category of employees enters their dream job to find themselves working alongside Walmart level employees who could care less about providing quality work and soon realize that the company itself doesn't care about the level of product they put out. Then eventually these employees will start to wonder why they care themselves and either reduce themselves to that level or leave. It's a horrible cycle, I've seen some really good people work their way through these scenarios, it's just not a good experience all the way around.

 

[RobGraves]

You are incorrectly mixing and equating political systems with economic systems.

economic and political systems are inextricably intertwined

 

[Mr. Morrow]

economic and political systems are inextricably intertwined

You are the one who hates Capitalism but can you name one place in the world that has a different system that actually works. Name a socialist country that has succeeded please.

 

[stlbobby]

economic and political systems are inextricably intertwined

They may be intertwined, but they are still separate systems. Socialism can exist in a democracy, a dictatorship, or an oligarchy. Capitalism can flourish under fascism, confederacy, or anarchy. You cannot claim a governmental system is an extreme form of an economic system or vise versa.

 

[mkt]

You are the one who hates Capitalism but can you name one place in the world that has a different system that actually works. Name a socialist country that has succeeded please.

There's a lot of ground to cover in that one.

First, define what you perceive as socialist:
1- Regarded as socialist
2- Constitutionally socialist
3- More socialist than the US

Next, define success:
1- Economic Success ($$)
2- Social Success (Healthcare, education, quality of life, liberties)

Then I'll get you a list.

 

[RobGraves]

You are the one who hates Capitalism but can you name one place in the world that has a different system that actually works. Name a socialist country that has succeeded please.

no form of purity or absolutism is the answer... and there are many places who straddle the lines rather successfully and put the people first and corporate interests second. Uncontrolled capitalism in an unrestrained form, i.e. the "conservative" paradise of no regulations, is the problem and it slides the slope of governments being controlled by corporations, like what we have had happen over the last 40 years in this country. If we had stuck to "FDR socialism" we would not be in the situations we have now.

People should never have an issue in helping their fellow man, if we fall to selfish philosophies than we ordain our own destruction. The function of a society is to support one another.

 

[Mr. Morrow]

There's a lot of ground to cover in that one.

First, define what you perceive as socialist:
1- Regarded as socialist
2- Constitutionally socialist
3- More socialist than the US

Next, define success:
1- Economic Success ($$)
2- Social Success (Healthcare, education, quality of life, liberties)

Then I'll get you a list.

As successful as the US before th reasession.

And socialist I would define as anything that takes wealth from one group and gives it to another group. Where there is massive government programs that run everything.

Greece a lot of other European countries.

 

[mkt]

As successful as the US before th reasession.

And socialist I would define as anything that takes wealth from one group and gives it to another group. Where there is massive government programs that run everything.

Greece a lot of other European countries.

Well, you see... you're confusing communism and socialism. If the government runs everything, that's communism (and it disgusts me). True socialists have no issues with capitalist elements coexisting with government social programs (see Scandinavia and the China of the present)

 

[RobGraves]

They may be intertwined, but they are still separate systems. Socialism can exist in a democracy, a dictatorship, or an oligarchy. Capitalism can flourish under fascism, confederacy, or anarchy. You cannot claim a governmental system is an extreme form of an economic system or vise versa.

Actually you linked them well... "Fascists seek to organize a nation according to corporatist perspectives, values, and systems, including the political system and the economy"

and yes, socialism does do well well under a democracy... heck.. Marx even said "Democracy is the road to socialism."

And its funny because rampant corporatism does poorly under true democracy...

But then again, the Texas educational system will now remind you... we arent a Democracy in America... we are a "republic"

 

[RobGraves]

Well, you see... you're confusing communism and socialism. If the government runs everything, that's communism (and it disgusts me). True socialists have no issues with capitalist elements coexisting with government social programs (see Scandinavia and the China of the present)

ding ding ding...

 

[Mr. Morrow]

Well, you see... you're confusing communism and socialism. If the government runs everything, that's communism (and it disgusts me). True socialists have no issues with capitalist elements coexisting with government social programs (see Scandinavia and the China of the present)

You are right but imo the only way to support a socialist society is through the government. So one way or another in a Socialist nation the government directly or indirectly will control most asspects of society.

In a perfect world it would work (see Star Trek) I just don'e ever see it working :shrug:

 

[Mr. Morrow]

ding ding ding...

Not really because the only way to support a socialist society is through the goverment.

 

[RobGraves]

Not really because the only way to support a socialist society is through the goverment.

of course... who is even arguing that? no one is arguing in favour of anarchy here.... we are arguing in favour of government and the people over corporations.