Workers want pay boost

[Agent_P]

True to an extent, But if the union was a national union it would have more clout with Disney, ie the 'no picketing on property' the FIRST thing SEIU would do is file a NLRB complaint about that provision not cower in fear. Negotiation is only possible among equals.

With a national union you would see Teamsters not delivering to Disney etc, etc. Not the current 'May I have another Sir?' union that the CM's have now.

Odd thing is most of the time I'm an anti-union guy but it appears WDW is one place that really NEEDS a strong union and rationality requires the appropriate measures be taken in this case a STRONG union to counter Disney's anti-labor practices.

You mean unions like:

International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Transportation Communications International Union
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees,
United Food & Commercial Workers,

 

[ford91exploder]

You mean unions like:

International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Transportation Communications International Union
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees,
United Food & Commercial Workers,

Trouble is those unions represent a relatively small portion of WDW's workforce, Imagine if every CM not represented by those unions was represented by SEIU.

With the exception of the Teamsters and UFCW named unions do not have a great deal of political clout.

 

[Agent_P]

Trouble is those unions represent a relatively small portion of WDW's workforce, Imagine if every CM not represented by those unions was represented by SEIU.

With the exception of the Teamsters and UFCW named unions do not have a great deal of political clout.

All those unions plus a couple local unions join together to form the Service Trades Council Union so all together they represent over 20,000 cast members.

 

[The Crafty Veteran]

A more meaningful comparison would be resort towns on the southern atlantic coast.

Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City have entry level hospitality jobs with an average starting pay in the 7.50- 8.50 range.

So does Disney control those business and tell them what to pay their employees or is it possible the hospitality industry just don't pay well? Or will you come up with another area of the country that's a more accurate comparison?

 

[ford91exploder]

All those unions plus a couple local unions join together to form the Service Trades Council Union so all together they represent over 20,000 cast members.

And Disney Tallahassee just laugh when they come to town, With SEIU/Teamsters Disney and pals in Tallahasee wet themselves which is the mark of an Effective union, SEIU unionized the housekeepers in Boston average wage is now 11-14 dollars.

 

[Agent_P]

And Disney Tallahassee just laugh when they come to town, With SEIU/Teamsters Disney and pals in Tallahasee wet themselves which is the mark of an Effective union, SEIU unionized the housekeepers in Boston average wage is now 11-14 dollars.

So is Boston in a right to work state? No. So those comparisons don't work.

 

[Hyperspace Hoopla]

Just look at this thread. 824 replies. Now look at the Cast Member appreciation thread. Only 422. I go to work everyday and perform my role to the best of my ability. If you don't want to listen to the safety message, or if you want to have your kids run up and down the aisle of a bus doing 50 MPH and wonder why they got hurt because you were too busy on your phone, don't come crying to me.to do."

It'd be nice if they had a staff appreciation thread where I work, but they don't.

We have a strange relationship here. They pay me what they do because they can't get anyone qualified to do my job for less, and I keep working here because I can't find anyone that'll pay me more.

 

[ford91exploder]

So is Boston in a right to work state? No. So those comparisons don't work.

I assume you did not live in the Boston area when it was happening, Hotel owners locking out staff, strikes all over the place dueling lawsuits in the courts, dueling lawmaking it was UGLY and MA is a UNION state.

In the Boston case it was SEIU replacing a weak union which was subservient to the hotel owners, Once again a 'May I have another Sir?' union. The war started over the hotelier's wanting to cut housekeeping wages and the union was OK with it, SEIU smelled blood and booted out the old union which did not go quietly.

So yeah I think it was directly comparable.

 

[maxairmike]

Doing some simple online research and making a few phone calls, hospitality jobs in the three biggest cities, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, for entry level housekeeping at name hotels and resorts average around 9 dollars an hour. Does Disney control those pay rates as well?

Of course they don't control pay rates for others, but you can be certain that if Disney were to raise their pay rate, a whole bunch of other companies would be right behind, especially in the Central Florida market. To believe otherwise is absolutely naive. I haven't seen a single person make the argument that Disney sets the rates for other companies, but people have implied, if not outright said that as a worldwide and local industry leader, they can set a tone and it will carry through. That is absolutely correct. And just curious, what level of hotel are you looking at? I have a funny feeling that you're likely looking no higher than a "low" brand hotel. Many of Disney's CMs are doing housekeeping at resorts that Disney suggestively portrays (not to mention charges rates much higher than) as comparable to a downtown Conrad, or otherwise luxury, city-center hotel. I wonder what their pay looks like relative to pay at those kind of places (I've heard pay is generally a bit higher at the deluxe resorts, but I really don't know how true that is, and I still have a strong feeling it is lower than I would expect when making a comparison)? Would you see a national increase because of a Disney bump? No, of course not at any meaningful or noticeable level, because none of the companies would make large national wage adjustments because of one actor in just two opposite markets.

And yes, hospitality is one of the lower paying industries, and I would say under paid, in general.

 

[Andrew C]

Is this serious? To think Disney controls the pay standard of the other parks in the area is completely ridiculous. Have you looked at your local rate of pay for hospitality jobs? In my area its no different than what Disney starts at. Its not Disney, its the industry.

People need to stop passing blame and making excuses.

You are right, it is the industry, which I have been a part of since I was 16. Same in other markets. Entry level hospitality jobs just do not pay that much. Maybe it sucks, but it is reality. Disney is not doing anything differently here than other major hospitality companies (although it may be the opinion of some that they should, considering their history, etc).

 

[Andrew C]

Of course they don't control pay rates for others, but you can be certain that if Disney were to raise their pay rate, a whole bunch of other companies would be right behind, especially in the Central Florida market. To believe otherwise is absolutely naive. I haven't seen a single person make the argument that Disney sets the rates for other companies, but people have implied, if not outright said that as a worldwide and local industry leader, they can set a tone and it will carry through. That is absolutely correct. And just curious, what level of hotel are you looking at? I have a funny feeling that you're likely looking no higher than a "low" brand hotel. Many of Disney's CMs are doing housekeeping at resorts that Disney suggestively portrays (not to mention charges rates much higher than) as comparable to a downtown Conrad, or otherwise luxury, city-center hotel. I wonder what their pay looks like relative to pay at those kind of places (I've heard pay is generally a bit higher at the deluxe resorts, but I really don't know how true that is, and I still have a strong feeling it is lower than I would expect when making a comparison)? Would you see a national increase because of a Disney bump? No, of course not at any meaningful or noticeable level, because none of the companies would make large national wage adjustments because of one actor in just two opposite markets.

And yes, hospitality is one of the lower paying industries, and I would say under paid, in general.

From my experience, wages for entry level positions at big box hotels or luxury resorts are not really that different than working at a smaller property. It may be just slightly higher because those at a higher-end property may have more responsibilities, but the difference is not significant.

EDIT: you will see a larger gap however, when you move into management positions at a higher end hotel compared to those hotels on the lower end of the spectrum.

 

[maxairmike]

From my experience, wages for entry level positions at big box hotels or luxury resorts are not really that different than working at a smaller property. It may be just slightly higher because those at a higher-end property may have more responsibilities, but the difference is not significant.

EDIT: you will see a larger gap however, when you move into management positions at a higher end hotel compared to those hotels on the lower end of the spectrum.

Thanks, I've never really gone into the actual hotel side at all, I've stayed "outside" for my years and experience in the industry. I really only have what I've heard from friends and acquaintances to go on (who again mostly inhabit the "outdoor" space of the industry).

 

[FireChiefGoofy]

Have you thought of getting a different job? It reads as if you need one.

I love my job. Why would I leave? Central Florida job market isn't the best in case you haven't heard. Read my previous post. I don't work there to get rich. I want to make people smile.

 

[slappy magoo]

I love my job. Why would I leave? Central Florida job market isn't the best in case you haven't heard. Read my previous post. I don't work there to get rich. I want to make people smile.

You don't understand, John, there's a big contingent of libertarians ans libertarian wannabes following this thread that essentially thinks that if you're not a millionaire, it's your fault. Don't like your job, get another one. LIKE your job but think it adds more value than what the company assigns to it viz a viz your pay stub and want to try to negotiate for a better wage? Why, that's just code for "I don't like my job," so get another. They believe that if you think you're worth more, the solution is to find someone willing to pay you what you think you're worth, but to try to get it from your current employer is socialism and reverse-tyranny. So find another job, get a second job, sell Grit America's Family Newspaper, but Heaven forbid you try to organize to get a better wage. Then Disney might close down or something.

 

[BuddyThomas]

There is a documentary on HBO tonight called Paycheck to Paycheck about the working poor, and it should probably be required watching for some of the folks on this thread who never lived psycheck to paycheck and therefore, can't understand it.

 

[FireChiefGoofy]

There is a documentary on HBO tonight called Paycheck to Paycheck about the working poor, and it should probably be required watching for some of the folks on this thread who never lived psycheck to paycheck and therefore, can't understand it.

Hopefully they do watch it and provide a full report. I don't have cable or HBO, only antenna.

 

[FireChiefGoofy]

You don't understand, John, there's a big contingent of libertarians ans libertarian wannabes following this thread that essentially thinks that if you're not a millionaire, it's your fault. Don't like your job, get another one. LIKE your job but think it adds more value than what the company assigns to it viz a viz your pay stub and want to try to negotiate for a better wage? Why, that's just code for "I don't like my job," so get another. They believe that if you think you're worth more, the solution is to find someone willing to pay you what you think you're worth, but to try to get it from your current employer is socialism and reverse-tyranny. So find another job, get a second job, sell Grit America's Family Newspaper, but Heaven forbid you try to organize to get a better wage. Then Disney might close down or something.

Totally agree. As for getting a second job, it's nearly impossible with my current job. Federal law dictates that I can not work more than 70 hours in 8 days. I'm sure the elitists on here would not like to have their bus driver fall asleep at a red light or while moving because he or she was pulling an all nighter at Home Depot.

Safety first.

 

[BigTxEars]

There is a documentary on HBO tonight called Paycheck to Paycheck about the working poor, and it should probably be required watching for some of the folks on this thread who never lived psycheck to paycheck and therefore, can't understand it.

A lot of us have lived paycheck to paycheck more years than I care to remember. I don't need to watch a silly TV show to see it. I don't live pay check to pay check now because I worked hard and long to get out of that way of life. The victim mentality embraced by a large number of folks (not everyone so no need to get offended if you are not one) who do live paycheck to paycheck is the biggest hurdle in their way to getting out of that lifestyle.

Disney is paying the fair market value for their labor, if they were not they would not be able to staff their positions. Not sure what good a large union would do for anybody. Of course the union gotta make their money too, dues are dues I guess so I am sure they would love to "help" those poor Disney CMs for a small fee....

 

[BuddyThomas]

Hopefully they do watch it and provide a full report. I don't have cable or HBO, only antenna.

Apparently the woman who is the subject of the doc makes $9.49 an hour and is barely getting by.

A lot of us have lived paycheck to paycheck more years than I care to remember. I don't need to watch a silly TV show to see it. I don't live pay check to pay check now because I worked hard and long to get out of that way of life. The victim mentality embraced by a large number of folks (not everyone so no need to get offended if you are not one) who do live paycheck to paycheck is the biggest hurdle in their way to getting out of that lifestyle.

Disney is paying the fair market value for their labor, if they were not they would not be able to staff their positions. Not sure what good a large union would do for anybody. Of course the union gotta make their money too, dues are dues I guess so I am sure they would love to "help" those poor Disney CMs for a small fee....

I feel like I am watching Fox News with some of these posts. And why is a documentary you have not seen a silly tv show? How I Met Your Mother is a silly tv show. A serious film about a serious issue is not.

 

[Preston Chatsworth]

I think the problem is the fact that our government is not capable of creating real jobs that pay a substantial wage so those who lost their employment during this ongoing Great Recession, had to take these menial positions that were once held by those in high school, college and the elderly who had other means of support. Let's face it, these jobs were never intended to provide sufficient income to live off of but all of a sudden everyone wants them to because this is all there is. Very sad state off affairs this country is in.