Criticism/Action to end CP-facts and sources

[Anna's_Order]

Hi, I made a comment regarding some action that has been taken to end the Disney College Program in the near future. Some people questioned my sources, so I thought I'd include the facts I know:

- In late 2007, a permanent Cast Member ran for president of the local union in Orlando. Part of his platform intended to get rid of the Disney College program, claiming that the program "imports thousands of low-wage earners every year to work for Disney, depressing the local employment market and keeping wages down." *Wikipedia*

-Last year, the college interns, along with part-time high school students and international students, worked almost a seventh of all available scheduled hours in jobs such as lifeguards, fast food servers and merchandise salespeople, according to figures compiled by the unions at Disney World.
*msn.com*

-"..stands to question how long the Disney college program can continue to exist in its current state. Head of employee veterans union promises to take action against Disney College program from depriving necessary summer and seasonal hours from senior union members. Legal status of the CPs continues to be in question, and new California state laws prohibit interns from receiving less benefits than entry level employees.." *Jim Hill media*

 

[jewjubean]

Thank you for posting your information. Although it night be a thing of the future in my own opinion I don't think they will end the program anytime soon. When and if you get into the program you will see how CPs are a huge part of the Disney company. If you notices the article mentions California and as far as I know Cali has different rules and a different union than
wdw.

 

[jewjubean]

Also I just read the quote you quoted and I have to say that I find it funny you forgot to quote the whole
statement. Particularly the part of how Disney responded to him saying they were going to downsize the program.

 

[flowergirlbecca]

I'm sorry, but I don't even trust your sources. You cite Wikipedia, and Jim Hill Media, both of which are known for their - ahem - unreliability. The quote from MSN was just that, a fact, and didn't really stand to support your point either way. I do appreciate that you are attempting to substantiate the rumors you are spreading, but these sources and critical business thinking lead me to believe that the CP is here to stay, and probably for a very long time.

 

[ifoceanscollide]

I'm sorry, but I don't even trust your sources. You cite Wikipedia, and Jim Hill Media, both of which are known for their - ahem - unreliability. The quote from MSN was just that, a fact, and didn't really stand to support your point either way. I do appreciate that you are attempting to substantiate the rumors you are spreading, but these sources and critical business thinking lead me to believe that the CP is here to stay, and probably for a very long time.

agreed. It's not going anywhere anytime soon

 

[illini4princess]

Maybe this is just the English student in me, but there are a couple things wrong with your post.

One, you posted where you got your sources from, but no links. That's a problem. Especially something so general as MSN.com. That means WE have to do the legwork if we want to read these so-called facts in context.

Next, here are some of the articles that you mysteriously forgot to include.

From the Wikepedia page:

Critics argue that Disney is using the program as a source of cheap labor, as interns do the same work as veteran employees, but at a significantly lower pay rate.[4] In late 2007, a permanent Cast Member ran for president of the local union in Orlando. Part of his platform intended to get rid of the Disney College program, claiming that the program "imports thousands of low-wage earners every year to work for Disney, depressing the local employment market and keeping wages down." Disney responded that the program is beneficial in the recruitment of cast members and that 8,000 workers out of 62,000 do not greatly impact operations.

From the MSN article:

Disney World intern Omarr Cantu stands inside the rotunda of Disney’s Casting Building where he works. Each year, some 8,000 students learn valuable work skills as college interns at Disney World, but their presence has drawn some criticism from unionized workers.

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said in an e-mail that the company doesn’t comment on individual workers. But Disney’s goal is for every participant to complete the program and that disciplinary action is taken based on the available facts, she said.

“There are guidelines students are expected to follow,” she said.

‘We’re there to create magic’
Despite his concerns, Chambers said the program probably is a good experience for the students because they learn what it’s like in the working world.

In fact, the whole entire MSN article simply explains why some regular cast members don't like the CP (something we knew already), and that not everyone's experience is wonderful (something we also knew already). It says that some people do not receive college credit (we knew this) and that the wages are lower for certain roles (we also knew this).

The Jim Hill Media information is almost the same thing. Just explaining how regular union workers hate the CP because they feel they have to compete with students who would be willing to work a lot of hours for less money. REALLY do you think this is new? I'm willing to bet workers have been protesting about it since the program began 25 years ago. AND as the Wikipedia article says, Disney has already commented stating "8,000 workers out of 62,000 do not greatly impact operations.".

Nice try OP.

 

[GalDisney]

The college program wont end for the simple reason the Orlando area does not have enough people fill jobs at Disney, which is THE reason the program exists.

 

[ifoceanscollide]

illini4princess, if this was indeed an english class, you would have just earned a HUGE A+!!!!

 

[chexie]

illini4princess, if this was indeed an english class, you would have just earned a HUGE A+!!!!

definitely agree with that one :]

so the lesson is don't take sources from wikipedia anyone can edit the facts and numbers on that site.

 

[Anna's_Order]

agreed. It's not going anywhere anytime soon

Do you wanna bet on the economy?

Never underestimate the powers of unions. Unions are what is gonna get me fired if I don't got a bus to get to work because the unions are striking. Unions destroyed the American auto industy. Unions are the reason taxes were raised and teachers were fired anyways.

So you wanna bet that these 8000 college workers are invaluable if the economy gets bad enough? That they won't cave into public pressure to provide more jobs and dump the lot?

 

[mousermerf]

The college program is not going to end, but Disney is pushing in the union contract negotiations for the big union - the attractions, hosts, etc.. one - to raise the hourly percentage limit from the current 35% to a higher 40% of CP/International program workers.

I don't think I worded that terribly well, but Disney wants to increase the amount of the total hours CP's and International workers can cover in those areas to 40% instead of the current 35% of the total hours.

That's already a big chunk of the hours and Disney wants it raised... I can see how any ful timer worker would be annoyed.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Do you wanna bet on the economy?

Here's the thing- CP's get paid less than FT/PT/Seasonal CM's. If the economy stays like it is now (which all signs say that it will) Disney isn't going to get rid of something that gives them a chance to pay approx. 5,000 or more (your article said 8,000) CP wages instead of regular wages. If you look at it that way- the CP saves Disney money- which is the opposite of your explanation to get rid of it.

 

[Anna's_Order]

Here's the thing- CP's get paid less than FT/PT/Seasonal CM's. If the economy stays like it is now (which all signs say that it will) Disney isn't going to get rid of something that gives them a chance to pay approx. 5,000 or more (your article said 8,000) CP wages instead of regular wages. If you look at it that way- the CP saves Disney money- which is the opposite of your explanation to get rid of it.

Alright, I agree! I agree!

I am not trying to cause trouble on this board. I just make a single comment, and I have an explosion of "That's so trollish!" responses, and I feel like I have to go out of my way to respectfully defend myself.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Here's the thing- CP's get paid less than FT/PT/Seasonal CM's. If the economy stays like it is now (which all signs say that it will) Disney isn't going to get rid of something that gives them a chance to pay approx. 5,000 or more (your article said 8,000) CP wages instead of regular wages. If you look at it that way- the CP saves Disney money- which is the opposite of your explanation to get rid of it.

CP's also don't get benefits. The only benefits they get are the discounts and free admission. No insurance, no 401k, no vacation time, nothing like that. Much cheaper than a full-timer.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Alright, I agree! I agree!

I am not trying to cause trouble on this board. I just make a single comment, and I have an explosion of "That's so trollish!" responses, and I feel like I have to go out of my way to respectfully defend myself.

I, personally, am not telling you you have to agree- I am discussing your point. This is a discussion board.
When you make big statements like "they're ending the CP" people are going to have big reactions. Most, if not all of us, are planning for the CP to be a large part of our lives. (Including yourself, right?) Unless it comes straight from Disney- it most likely will get the "where did you hear that?! It CANNOT be true" Reaction here. But yeah, a lot of us need to calm down how we react.

And, even if you didn't mean them to, a good many of your posts have ruffled some feathers. So people are already coming in saying "here we go..." unfortunately that will cause their responses to be negative from the start.

 

[Anna's_Order]

CP's also don't get benefits. The only benefits they get are the discounts and free admission. No insurance, no 401k, no vacation time, nothing like that. Much cheaper than a full-timer.

Exactly. I'm just saying that in both Florida and California, news sources do indeed say that the public is complaining that Disney hires college students instead of giving full time work with benefits to deserving residents who need jobs, like young moms and dads and the elderly and stuff.

But once again I am not DISAGREEING with anything you say.

All I know is I'm gonna get in this program for spring in case they do can it and I miss my chance.

 

[illini4princess]

I am not trying to cause trouble on this board. I just make a single comment, and I have an explosion of "That's so trollish!" responses, and I feel like I have to go out of my way to respectfully defend myself.

Really, what do you expect? It's like going onto a bodybuilding forum and saying "duuuude weightlifting sux. u guiz shud play a real sport or sumthin" and then getting surprised when you get flamed.

troll [trohl]
-noun
1. One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument

It's one thing to mention something you've read and inviting discussion on it's validity (especially something that has not in anyway been confirmed or even hinted at by the company itself). But it's quite another to say GUESS WHAT I'M RIGHT HERE ARE MY SOURCES *posts sketchy out-of-context quotes*

About 80% of your posts on this board have been either antagonistic or just plain rude. Don't want to be called a troll? Don't act like one.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Exactly. I'm just saying that in both Florida and California, news sources do indeed say that the public is complaining that Disney hires college students instead of giving full time work with benefits to deserving residents who need jobs, like young moms and dads and the elderly and stuff.

But once again I am not DISAGREEING with anything you say.

All I know is I'm gonna get in this program for spring in case they do can it and I miss my chance.

And guess what - TONS of employers hire "deserving" people PART-TIME instead of full-time to keep from paying them full-time benefits, and they do it ALL THE TIME. My employer does it. I'm lucky that my position requires me to be full-time, but I'm sure they'll hire part-timers soon. The kitchen staff is all part-time. My best friend's employer won't hire anyone full-time whatsoever. My mom's store only hires management as full-time. My brother is lucky in that his position is a full-time position, but everyone else in his department is part-time. Outside of the office or management world, it can be extremely difficult to find a full-time position. It's just a business decision.

I personally would never have thought of moving to Orlando and working for Disney had I not done the CP. But I did, and now that's in the forefront of my mind and is my plan for once I (finally ) finish school. I plan to move back and work for them full-time and, if I can get it, in management. I knew plenty of people who were full-timers who started out in the program.

I don't see this program going away. It's a business decision that affects the bottom line in a positive way, and Disney's execs are too smart to let it stop.

 

[SportsChick]

You're talking about unions yet only the small amount of CPs at DL are affected by unions. There is not a union in Florida (other than Equity actors, but that's a different beast)

 

[glendalais]

You're talking about unions yet only the small amount of CPs at DL are affected by unions. There is not a union in Florida (other than Equity actors, but that's a different beast)

Actually, the vast majority of Florida-Site Full Time and Casual Regular Guest Service Cast Members are indeed covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated by the Service Trades Council Union, a coalition of several labour unions. Indeed, they're currently in the process of renegotiating that agreement right now.

Since Florida is a Right-to-Work state, Cast Members aren't required to join, and CPs aren't covered here unlike in California, but the Union does exist.

The college program is not going to end, but Disney is pushing in the union contract negotiations for the big union - the attractions, hosts, etc.. one - to raise the hourly percentage limit from the current 35% to a higher 40% of CP/International program workers.

I don't think I worded that terribly well, but Disney wants to increase the amount of the total hours CP's and International workers can cover in those areas to 40% instead of the current 35% of the total hours.

That's already a big chunk of the hours and Disney wants it raised... I can see how any ful timer worker would be annoyed.

Technically, the Company's proposal at the current negotiations is to raise the quota for "Casual" labour, which includes Casual Regular (Part Time) and Casual Temporary (Seasonal) Cast Members in addition to Disney Internships and Programs (excluding Cultural Representatives) Participants.

And that was just an initial proposal. The negotiations don't start up again until August, at which time, it will probably be withdrawn or negotiated to a lower number.