Walt Disney World Hotel Strike Over

[mkt]

From Orlando.Digitalcity.com and Metro Networks

Walt Disney World Hotel Strike Over

The picket signs are coming down in front of the Swan and Dolphin hotels at Walt Disney World. A strike by housekeepers, laundry workers, seamstresses and public area attendants that started 12 days ago ended Sunday after union representatives reached a new contract agreement with the two hotels. A spokeswomen with the hotels, which are on Disney property but not operated by the entertainment giant, says minor changes were made to the contract, but details were not given.

 

[pheneix]

Thank God. Did anyone see the planes with the banners hanging behind them proclaiming "Stop the oppression: Boycott the Swan and Dolphin" flying over Epcot and MGM? I had flashbacks to the Church Street Station days.

 

[mkt]

from mycfnow.com


Striking Workers At Disney Hotels Agree To Contract

Contract Covers 400 Workers

Posted: 5:14 a.m. EDT June 10, 2002
Updated: 7:49 a.m. EDT June 10, 2002

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Striking workers at two hotels on Walt Disney World property approved a contract Sunday that will allow many of them to return to work.


Teamsters Local 385, the union representing housekeepers, laundry workers, seamstresses and public area attendants at Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin hotels, declared the strike two weeks ago in one of the rare labor disputes in Orlando's tourism industry. The contract covers 400 of the hotels' 2,000 workers.

Workers wanted a guaranteed work week, job assignments based on seniority, wages to match inflation and no cutbacks in medical insurance.

Mike Stapleton, president of the union local, said the approved contract makes it easier for workers to file a grievance if they don't get a 40-hour work week and gives workers an extra holiday.

"We made changes that both sides can live with," Stapleton said.

Treva Marshall, a spokeswoman for the hotels, said the contract was similar to the one workers rejected twice previously with only "a couple of minor tweaks." She refused to give details on the contract.

Workers had been hired to replace the striking workers, and the striking workers will be brought back on an "as needed-basis," Marshall said.

But Stapleton said the law prevents the hotels from hiring permanent replacements since the strike was over unfair labor practices.

"We may be battling the company over that issue," Stapleton said.

Although the hotels are on Disney property, they are owned by Tishman Hotel Corp. and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. They account for 2,267 of Orlando's 108,000 hotel rooms.

 

[JLW11Hi]

"Stop the oppression: Boycott the Swan and Dolphin"

lol, boycott the Swan and Dolphin by staying at a different Disney resort!

 

[pheneix]

It actually made no difference to me anyway, as I was already boycotting the Swan and Dolphin. There is no way in hell I will stay in a resort that ugly, never.

 

[JLW11Hi]

yeah, and its pretty expensive, too. Plus, there is usually a convention staying there.

 

[Disney4648]

The Dolphin is a very nice resort. There was going to be a strike while I stayed at the WDW Dolphin for spring break.

 

[epcot71]

how are the rest of orlandos hotels doing-?after 9/11 tourism got hit hard all over and as we all know many companies like disney cut hours etc?have there been many strikes in o-town at other properties?

 

[Hyperion93]

I'm sure glad I wasn't their to see it.