Posted on 10/27/2004 7:56:31 AM PDT by SmithPatterson
Disgruntled Disney workers target tourists
By Mike Branom
The Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney World’s largest union, upset over stalled contract negotiations, took their arguments directly to tourists Tuesday, handing out leaflets at Orlando International Airport.
The Service Trades Council Union, representing 22,000 of the theme park’s 53,000 employees, recently has taken to publicly showing its unhappiness over talks that began in March.
Earlier this month, union leaders distributed fliers at the opening of a World of Disney store in New York and at a ‘‘Disney on Ice’’ show in Philadelphia.
‘‘Our concern is to get a fair contract and we will take our story wherever we have to, to whomever we have to, however we have to, to encourage Disney to be reasonable at the bargaining table,’’ said Morty Miller, president of the union UNITE HERE! Local 362, one of six unions comprising the Service Trades Council Union.
Union officials oppose the elimination of some overtime provisions, a significant increase in the cost of health care insurance and a proposal to not offer new hires a 401K plan instead of a pension plan.
The union’s workers, employed as everything from hotel maids to ticket-takers to costumed characters, resoundingly rejected, 3,659 votes to 96, Disney’s last offer of a three-year contract earlier this month. Talks are to resume Wednesday, according to Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak. The old contract has been extended to Nov. 4.
A longtime Disney critic said the union’s plea to the public hits Disney in the company’s Achilles heel — its ferociously maintained image.
‘‘The union is attacking the brand to the tourists, who are the consumers of the brand,’’ said Rollins College political science professor Rick Fogelsong. ‘‘So, from a political standpoint it makes sense.’’
But an industry expert wonder dismissed the effectiveness of the union’s tactic.
‘‘It isn’t going to have an impact on attendance because the people that are coming via airplane to visit the parks, they’re there,’’ said Dennis Spiegel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc., a Cincinnati-based consulting firm. ‘‘To me, it’s an ineffective way to do it; I’d rather see them sitting at the table and negotiating a little bit more.
Disney thugs!!! Good grief!
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The union doesn't support homosexuals?
If I understand the concept of a Disney on Ice show correctly, it's a bunch of Disney characters ice-skating, right? Who the hell would pay to see that?
Well if they scare people away, there will be more room at the parks for me when I go after Thankgiving.
When the union wins the consumer pays more.
If you want America to work less, just say "Union Yes!"
Same here -- our health insurance goes up every year. I have no sympathy for these whining union thugs. They don't want to pay a penny out of their pocket for anything. Here in Cincinnati, Kroger just went through negotiations with their union. Of course, the union was crying that now, they were going to have to pay for their health insurance! Boo-freakin'-Hoo!! Welcome to the real world, guys! Same with the teachers in Kentucky. They were actually going to have to pay for their health insurance! Sorry, folks, can't squeeze a tear!
The Service Trades Council Union, representing 22,000 of the theme park’s 53,000 employees,
So they represent less than half the employees.
Earlier this month, union leaders distributed fliers at the opening of a World of Disney store in New York and at a ‘‘Disney on Ice’’ show in Philadelphia.
And the union leader goons started out distributing fliers in - shock! - New York and Philidelphia.
Minnie and Micky better look out, their little fingers may be broken if they don't sign up.
If they don't like their jobs/wages let them go work someplace else.
The problem isn't quite that simple anymore. During the 90's, Clinton sold off "intangibles" -- like job security -- to provide some illusory short-term "prosperity." The loss of implied long-term benefits and trust in employers is (a) making employment--and therefore, our society--more unstable, and (b) pushing people more toward more forceable means of stability (e.g., union support, confrontational and hostile employment relationships). I think the Long-term, broader implications are being hidden by the short-term distaste for the union stunt.
It's exactly that simple. These people aren't slaves. They aren't indentured servants. They don't have to pay a penalty if they quit. If they don't like it go somewhere else. If they're getting a better deal at Disney than they'd get elsewhere, then this is a pretty good indication that their value in the employment market is overstated already.
Clinton sold off "intangibles" -- like job security -- to provide some illusory short-term "prosperity."
Clintoon (as much as I detest the man) didn't sell anything. Kongress in their frenzy to plunder and squander ever more of the GDP has made even the most productive country on earth less wealthy by looting private industry to pay for political boondoogles. King George II has spent a lot more than Clinton.
I hope they didn't take off their costumes. They're not allowed to take off their outfits even if the temperature was over 100 degrees and they were vomiting in them. Per Disney rules they have to leave them on.
I have to wonder if some of them lost overtime due to the new overtime rules that were recently enacted.
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