Unions

[Tom]

I know there is some Union involvement at WDW, such as characters being Teamsters (which makes no sense to me).

What all positions are Unionized, and what unions? And "why" if you know....

 

[Sir Hiss527]

What exactly is the Union? I've heard about it...Does it have something to do with the characters? And people that are in the union, don't they get paid more?

 

[10 min. to wdw]

well Florida unlike some states is a right to work state and therfore Unions here are very weak. however to my knowledge almost every frontline position has a union availble however under Florida law you are not required to join. florida also has many more position then most states classified in the emergency personel catagorey saying that workers in these industries can't strike.

however I'm not A CM and don't know all the union positions in WDW but I know it is highly unionized.

 

[mkt]

the only reason the characters are union, was because at the time of organization, the teamsters were the only union willing to represent them.

Characters and most tranportation are Teamsters
Most operations are SEIU
foodservice is UFCW
techs and costuming are IATSE
actors, singers, dancers, and stunts are Actors Equity
musicians are AFM

that's all I can remember off the top of my head

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by mkt
the only reason the characters are union, was because at the time of organization, the teamsters were the only union willing to represent them.

Characters and most tranportation are Teamsters
Most operations are SEIU
foodservice is UFCW
techs and costuming are IATSE
actors, singers, dancers, and stunts are Actors Equity
musicians are AFM

that's all I can remember off the top of my head

Can you help me out here, haha. I'm in Construction Management and know all of the construction Unions, like teamsters, IBEW (Electrical), Carpenters, Masons, etc, etc....but I don't know the abbreviations for the ones you listed, like SEIU& IATSE.

I think it's great that FL doesn't require you to be in a Union. Teamsters is one that we don't really like up here - the memebers are typically the ones that give Unions bad names (want everything for nothing, lazy, worthless).

SIr Hiss, to answer your question, a Union is a private organization that represents "skilled" workers. For example, you can have a regular electrician, who learned on his own, or you can have a Union Electrician, who went to 3-4 years of electrical school and has a degree and certification. There are MANY unions, representing ALL different types of work. Teamsters are composed 90% of truck drivers, or people who work around them, like truck-loaders. All UPS drivers and laoders are Teamsters. The benefit of being in a Union is typically the strong legal backing you get, higher pay rates, and some form of education and formal training - but it also assumes that you're willing to work (which is not typically represented well in the UAW - United Auto Workers, or Teamsters).

 

[mkt]

IATSE: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

SEIU: Service Employees International Union

 

[BwanaBob]

Doesn't leave much out there that isn't union supported, huh? (at WDW)

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by mkt
IATSE: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

SEIU: Service Employees International Union

DUH, I recognize IATSE now, HAHA. I used to work in theater as a sound tech, and worked with all the guys in that Union (all off-duty firemen).

Seems like any Cast Member could join a Union.

 

[mkt]

not all... **MOST** office jobs aren't unionized... the few that are fall under lines of business that are a union workplace and those hourly CM's working in the offices would be under the union.

oh yeah.. IBEW's at WDW too...

all the unions at WDW (except Actors Equity) form the STCU, Service Trades Council Union