Characters protesting

[awilliams4]

So why the anger about Disney employees protesting, are they not allowed to because everyone here on the disboards loves Disney so much that it is a buzzkill to their vacation experience?

I suspect you have a point here. I wouldn't even be posting if this wasn't Disney. But then again, if they weren't protesting in the fashion that they are protesting, I probably wouldn't be defending Disney either.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

Blame Capitalism, not Disney. If they are successful and their actions cause Disney more harm then good, more power to them.

Protesting in Disney Costumes is a low blow. They are doing a bit more than protesting in their actions. They are not just saying they aren't paid well enough, they are stepping beyond that and trying to discredit their employer while they are still employed with them.

Amen.

Plus, the healthcare thing DOES suck... but it's not Disney's fault that healthcare has gone up. It's not like they are benefitting from it. Maybe the CMs should be protesting their healthcare provider.

 

[Dorisk3]

Blame Capitalism, not Disney. If they are successful and their actions cause Disney more harm then good, more power to them.

Protesting in Disney Costumes is a low blow. They are doing a bit more than protesting in their actions. They are just saying they aren't paid well enough, they are stepping beyond that and trying to discredit their employer while they are still employed with them.

Now that is something I agree with you on. The costumes are over the top, but I think the main goal there is so get some attention to their situation.

I don't really think their actions will cause Disney any harm, how many people on vacation do you think would refuse to step over a picket line. I can just see the threads here on the dis now: "will the picket lines ruin my vacation or effect the crowd levels?" or "my vacation was ruined by those pesky protestors."

 

[cdsulhoff]

We live in a dog-eat-dog society. The people who don't have the education to get jobs that are higher paying are dealing with their life choices... you choose to have a family early and not go to college? It's your choice. 100%. My DH took a pay CUT because his company wasn't doing well. Everyone else was getting an annual raise in the IT jobs around our city, but DH's company took a 10% pay cut. We didn't like it - so did we protest? No. He found a new job that paid a lot better.

He had that choice because he CHOSE to go to school and to not start a family or drop out of high school.



I completely believe and support the right to protest - BUT what I don't agree with the reasoning that these CMs have. At least they got a raise when so many in our country are facing pay cuts or pay freezes. I'm a high school teacher - our super intendent is making half a million a year, and we have been on a pay freeze for five years.

And if you think that teachers make at least 8$ an hour you are sorely miseducated on the state of affairs in education.

The above BOLD comment is soo offensive! I myself along with my DH started a family right after high school! My DH is self employed. He and I did not go to college and we happen to do very well for our self!
I can also say that the people in my family that went to college are now looking for work or working at min wage place! And the people who decided that college was not for them are now business owners and doing VERY VERY well for them self!
So just because a person doesn't go to college doesn't make them not worthy of not having a high paying job!
I am by far not knocking college cause I want my son to go to college and he want to go! but He will always have a trade ( our business) to fall back on just in case it doesn't work out for him!
I know the teachers in my areas make roughly around $30 grand a year, minus out the expense of classroom supplies that are not covered and getting more school supplies cause of the budget cut and you are ration out paper throughout the year! and the supplies for those kids who cant afford the pens and crayons!it cuts into their wages big time! There is a lot of stuff that teachers need to make a truly successful year that the board doesn't cover!

 

[Dorisk3]

Why don't you take a big girl pill and realize some of us do know more about the world and the trouble in it than you do. Try being the teacher dealing with a classroom of children or a sw pulling a screaming child from the arms of her parent, who doesn't want to leave the parent who left cigarette burns all over her.

Standing in the sun isn't the worse thing in the world.

There are lots of people who want higher wages. Complaining isn't the issue. But Everyone's health care is going up. That is a fact if life. There is no promise there will always be money for cable, infernet, cell phones or cars. Check out the rest of the world.

So when that hard working teacher's contract is up and wants a raise or wants to protest that their health care contribution is too high, he or she should just lump it? If someone doesn't ever complain, how do things change? You should read up on the history of labor unions and why they are started in the first place.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If this protest is anything like the ones in Anaheim, those aren't even Disney Cast Members.

 

[Planogirl]

Wow, some of the comments here amaze me. I don't begrudge the right to protest what is essentially a cut in pay for some pretty poorly paid people. Protesting is a right even if the costumes might be a bit over the top.

I don't compare them to Wal-Mart employees. They might be unskilled but in many positions they have to literally be "on" all the time and provide wonderful customer service to the people that they deal with. That part of it isn't so easy.

Personally, I wouldn't like crossing a picket line if there was one. I'd have to think about that.

 

[awilliams4]

Now that is something I agree with you on. The costumes are over the top, but I think the main goal there is so get some attention to their situation.

I don't really think their actions will cause Disney any harm, how many people on vacation do you think would refuse to step over a picket line. I can just see the threads here on the dis now: "will the picket lines ruin my vacation or effect the crowd levels?" or "my vacation was ruined by those pesky protestors."

Agreed, small potatoes I suspect. But I believe their intent was to try and make a bigger splash by using the costumes.

In my opinion though their choice to use the costumes will hurt more than it will help. The current climate already leans toward grumblings against anyone who has a job complaining about money.

I would suggest that the union leaders are making a mistake not to tell their union members not to at least try to take the higher ground.

 

[Wadecool]

What country do you think we all live in. If the job sucks that much, why the hell don't they find another one? They applied for the job, they got the job, I am sure that the pay scale and all the benefits are very easy to find and educate themselves on. They want more money, Disney is giving them 3% pay increases every year for the next three years in an environment where inflation is nill! And they still stoop to levels where they take up their companies intellectual creations and stomp all over them saying this place stinks, management is treating us like dirt, etc. Then do something for yourself and make a change in YOUR life, don't push your problems onto people that have nothing to do with your problems.

What they are getting paid is the going rate for what they do. My wife was a Medical Assitant for 15 years. The work was hard and the pay sucked. She went to night school for 6 years to become an RN. The pay is good and the work is even harder. She didn't run around saying her employer sucked
because she was getting paid X and X is what Medical Assistants make
everywhere!

If they have a problem with 3% increases, then they need to do something
that rates more than 3% increases.

Selling ice cream in the blazing sun huh? Wait, do I have to actually stand
the whole time too?

Geez, what a different reality you must live in.

 

[WDSearcher]

If we end up going to in April, and they're still picketing, we'll go to Universal and Sea World. We won't cross a picket (and they aren't paid enough).

Personally, I wouldn't like crossing a picket line if there was one. I'd have to think about that.

Is it whether they're protesting at all or whether you'd have to physically cross a line of CMs that would dictate whether you'd enter the parks or not? This one picket line is the first one they've held in Florida in months, yet they've been, technically, "protesting" the wage and benefit package since last October. If you've been to a Disney park since then, you've already been in the parks and given business to Disney during this union's protest.

If you're saying that you would not physically cross a line to get into the parks ... then you'd need to determine if a physical picket line at an intersection at Crossroads is enough to keep you out of a park whose entrance is a couple of miles away. In fact, depending on how you actually arrive at the parks, they could be protesting and you wouldn't even know it. Most of the main routes to the parks don't go past Crossroads. Plus ... if it IS about the physical line of people and Crossroads counts, and they only walk the picket on one day (as is the case here -- there is currently not a picket line at Crossroads), do you stay out of the park just on that day, and then return the next day when the picket is gone? (Not trying to be argumentative ... just wondering.)

Now that is something I agree with you on. The costumes are over the top, but I think the main goal there is so get some attention to their situation.

It would be nice if they did a little homework, though. Carrying around signs with "Toy Story 3" and the international symbol for "NO" aren't exactly a huge statement in Florida. In California (where they are also protesting), people generally get that what the union is saying is "Don't give TS3 an Oscar because Disney mistreats us". I mean ... it may not make sense in a direct correlation kind of way -- and it's really a moot point, since TS3 isn't going to win an Oscar anyway up against "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network" -- but at least the California people get the whole Academy Awards thing. Here in Florida, I've heard more comments about "Why are those people protesting Toy Story" than I have "Why are those people protesting Disney." A clearer and more direct campaign might get them more support.

 

[Wadecool]

I worked in a unionized factory for 9 years and the pay & hours sucked. Of course when they hired me I knew exactly what I was getting paid and what hours I'd be working, so it's not like they deceived me or anything. Just like these WDW workers who are protesting. I eventually got so sick and tired of the wages and hours at my job, do you know what I did? I went out and secured student loans and earned my Bachelors Degree while working full time at that same factory and now I make a lot more. That was a hard several years, but I wanted out bad enough so I did what I had to. I doubt if I'd be in the same position now if I had just stood outside on the corner and protested.

 

[Planogirl]

We haven't been since last August so we're in the clear.

I'm not sure what we would do. I understand that their pay and hours stink and they knew that going in. My issue is that their pay is in effect getting worse.

 

[ftballfan7]

The simple fact is that when Disney allows costumes to be made for rental shops then people can do whatever they want in those costumes. I've seen people do a lot worse than protest in Disney costumes on Halloween and many of them in places where kids could see them.

I'm thinking that they knew they'd garner more attention, therefore increasing the chances of negotiation from Disney, by wearing costumes. I hope they get it sorted out before it goes any further because, as much as I love Disney and am looking forward to our upcoming trip, I won't cross a picket line (if it comes to that, hopefully it won't).

 

[goofy4prez]

Exactly!!!! They were all fully aware of what their hourly wage would be when they accepted the job and now to strike because your raise was not enough is ridiculous. If you are unhappy with what the pay increase is then move on and let someone who wants to work for that amount have the job. The premises of unions when they began were to protect workers now many for the most part are based on greed and extortion. If their pay had been cut than I would fully understand the need to picket!

I really am not overly sympathetic nor opposed to labor unions in this day and age and I do agree with you about greed and extortion. But with that said, how is it any different than the companies they work for.

Further, how about yourself in your job, or if you stay at home, how about your spouse. Are you happy to be making the same wage you were 5 years ago? how about 10 years ago? perhaps 20 years ago? With your reasoning we should be happy never seeing a pay increase. Or, just move on and find another job, after all they are out there in abundance in this economy

How about the corporate greed. Bob Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney last year received a 35% pay increase from the prior year. YES, 35%. In my opinion there is no justifiable reason why any CEO should receive that type of pay raise and not take care of it's employees. I am not opposed to him making his millions, just be fair to those in the rank and file. IMHO, they are the backbone of any company. I myself am a small business owner with 6 employees working for me. And while my income is very important to me, so are the people who work for me. No way could I take a 35% increase in pay and not take care of my employees.

http://www.diszine.com/content/disney-ceos-pay-increases-by-thirty-five-percent

 

[awilliams4]

Further, how about yourself in your job, or if you stay at home, how about your spouse. Are you happy to be making the same wage you were 5 years ago? how about 10 years ago? perhaps 20 years ago? With your reasoning we should be happy never seeing a pay increase. Or, just move on and find another job, after all they are out there in abundance in this economy

http://www.diszine.com/content/disney-ceos-pay-increases-by-thirty-five-percent

CMs are getting raises every year. Your example doesn't seem to reflect the specific topic of the thread.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

The above BOLD comment is soo offensive! I myself along with my DH started a family right after high school! My DH is self employed. He and I did not go to college and we happen to do very well for our self!
I can also say that the people in my family that went to college are now looking for work or working at min wage place! And the people who decided that college was not for them are now business owners and doing VERY VERY well for them self!
So just because a person doesn't go to college doesn't make them not worthy of not having a high paying job!
I am by far not knocking college cause I want my son to go to college and he want to go! but He will always have a trade ( our business) to fall back on just in case it doesn't work out for him!
I know the teachers in my areas make roughly around $30 grand a year, minus out the expense of classroom supplies that are not covered and getting more school supplies cause of the budget cut and you are ration out paper throughout the year! and the supplies for those kids who cant afford the pens and crayons!it cuts into their wages big time! There is a lot of stuff that teachers need to make a truly successful year that the board doesn't cover!

I'm sorry that it comes across as me saying that people without an education don't deserve higher paying jobs, or that having a family early on and not going to school is wrong. The point I was trying to make was that everyone makes choices, and those choices come with consequences both positive and negative.

Does someone without an education deserve to teach? Definitely not. Does someone without an education deserve to be a therapist, social worker, or other positons that have been discussed? Definitely not.

There are some positions that you can't perform in effectively without an education - that much is almost indisputable.

This country absolutely needs people to work the lower paying jobs, too. If there was no one to work them we would all suffer.

Society is like a big machine, and we are all parts. Some of the parts require more training to work correctly than others.

My comment was in reference to the PP who thinks that it is not someone's fault that they don't have an education, when 99% of the time it *is* their fault because they didn't make the choice to prioritize education.

 

[WDSearcher]

How about the corporate greed. Bob Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney last year received a 35% pay increase from the prior year. YES, 35%. In my opinion there is no justifiable reason why any CEO should receive that type of pay raise and not take care of it's employees. I am not opposed to him making his millions, just be fair to those in the rank and file. IMHO, they are the backbone of any company. I myself am a small business owner with 6 employees working for me. And while my income is very important to me, so are the people who work for me. No way could I take a 35% increase in pay and not take care of my employees.

Then again ... this union represents only about a third of Disney's overall cast base in Florida. And we know from the last vote that at least a portion of that union is fine with Disney's offer. So at least two-thirds (and perhaps as many as three-quarters) of Disney's employees feel as though they are being taken care of, otherwise they'd be out there protesting too.

It's really an incomplete story. The people who are saying they "can't live" on the wages they get -- what do they consider essential costs? Food and shelter, certainly. But do you include cable, DVR, iPhone, texting? What kind of car are you driving? What kind of house do you have? That is ... are you saying that Disney isn't paying you a living wage because you already live beyond your means? Or are you saying Disney isn't paying you a living wage because you literally cannot afford to put food on the table, even with a modest budget and no extras? There is a difference.

I know people who have managed quite well on $10/hr. And I know people who make $90K who consider themselves "just barely squeaking by."

 

[luvthemouse71]

I have no problem with CMs protesting. At the end of the day, they are workers, no matter what idealistic thoughts we attach to them. Not saying unions are perfect, they're not. But, they wouldn't exist if companies/ workplaces could be trusted not to screw people over.

 

[GinnyEmma]

We haven't been since last August so we're in the clear.

I'm not sure what we would do. I understand that their pay and hours stink and they knew that going in. My issue is that their pay is in effect getting worse.

Did you get col raises this year? We haven't, ever. The only way most people get a raise of significant nature is to change jobs.

As far a being "on" all the time that is their job. It is what they are being paid for, just as the walmart employee might be paid to stock shelves. If you don't stock shelves or put up with irritating people, clients or patients you are not doing the job you are being paid to do. Not being paid enough is not an excuse for poor work quality, regardless of profession.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I get a cost of living raise each year as well as an anniversary raise. I get these because we have a union. The hospital tried to get us to forgo our COL raise one year but because we have a union they couldn't just take it away- we had the chance to vote on it..needless to say, the answer was a big fat no.