Union Soundly Rejects Disney World Contract Proposal
POSTED: 10:32 pm EDT October 1, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The union representing almost half of Walt Disney World's 53,000-person workforce voted soundly against a contract proposal Friday.
"The company is being totally unrealistic," said Joe Condo, who is heading negotiations for the Service Trades Council Union.
The union represents workers ranging from hotel maids to park ticket-takers to the workers who play costumed characters such as Mickey Mouse.
Condo said 3,659 members voted against the contract, and 96 voted for it in the second-best voting turnout the union has had.
In a press release, Disney said, "While the company is disappointed, we maintain that the overall offer is very competitive."
Union officials oppose the elimination of some overtime provisions, a significant increase in the cost of health care insurance and a proposal to eliminate a pension plan for new hires, offering them a 401K plan instead.
Starting minimum wage in the first year of the three-year contract would increase 10 cents to $6.80 with 10 cent increases in each of the next two years.
Condo said the health care proposal was untenable. But Disney said it is trying to offer a competitive plan with several options, and health care is "a national problem that everyone is facing."
The union plans to hold a demonstration in New York when Disney opens a new store Tuesday, and the two sides will return to the bargaining table later this month, Condo said.
There is "a very good chance" of a strike, Condo said, though "we absolutely don't want to go there."
POSTED: 10:32 pm EDT October 1, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The union representing almost half of Walt Disney World's 53,000-person workforce voted soundly against a contract proposal Friday.
"The company is being totally unrealistic," said Joe Condo, who is heading negotiations for the Service Trades Council Union.
The union represents workers ranging from hotel maids to park ticket-takers to the workers who play costumed characters such as Mickey Mouse.
Condo said 3,659 members voted against the contract, and 96 voted for it in the second-best voting turnout the union has had.
In a press release, Disney said, "While the company is disappointed, we maintain that the overall offer is very competitive."
Union officials oppose the elimination of some overtime provisions, a significant increase in the cost of health care insurance and a proposal to eliminate a pension plan for new hires, offering them a 401K plan instead.
Starting minimum wage in the first year of the three-year contract would increase 10 cents to $6.80 with 10 cent increases in each of the next two years.
Condo said the health care proposal was untenable. But Disney said it is trying to offer a competitive plan with several options, and health care is "a national problem that everyone is facing."
The union plans to hold a demonstration in New York when Disney opens a new store Tuesday, and the two sides will return to the bargaining table later this month, Condo said.
There is "a very good chance" of a strike, Condo said, though "we absolutely don't want to go there."
