Disney Reaches Tentative Labor Pact With Largest Union

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Disney, council reach labor pact

Willoughby Mariano | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 10, 2007

A tentative labor agreement announced Wednesday night between Walt Disney World Resort and its largest labor group -- promising some workers pay raises of 4 percent or more -- is being opposed by one union.

The three-year contract with the Service Trades Council includes plans to handle concerns such as wage increases, health care, pensions and scheduling for roughly 21,000 of the resort's 60,000 workers.

"The Service Trades Council has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, which we believe addresses those priorities," said Morty Miller, president of the council and one of the council's member unions, UNITE HERE Local 362, which represents custodial workers, vacation planners and others.

"This agreement not only represents Walt Disney World, but the concerns of the workers as well," Walt Disney World spokeswoman Kim Prunty said.

Backers said the agreement will increase pension benefits, pave the way for labor and management to improve scheduling, and boost wages for a majority of workers by 4 percent to 5 percent per year.

But support is not unanimous. The council represents six groups, which in turn represent workers from stage technicians to makeup artists to bus drivers.

One of those groups -- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 385 -- will not recommend the contract to its members, said organizer Donna-Lynne Dalton.The Teamsters represent bus operators, parking attendants, laundry workers and others.

The yearly pay raises are insufficient for workers at the top of their pay scales, who may receive much smaller increases under the tentative agreement, she said.

Plus, workers are shouldering too much of the cost of health care, Dalton said.

"People who make only a few dollars an hour have the same contribution amount as VPs [vice presidents]," Dalton said.

Miller would not elaborate on why the council supports the tentative agreement, saying he needed more time to consult with other members.

The council's last contract expired April 28. It was extended as negotiations continued. A simple majority must approve the contract.

The council is in the process of scheduling a vote.

Willoughby Mariano can be reached at wmariano@

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney World Reaches Tentative Labor Pact With Largest Union

May 10, 2007: 02:48 PM EST

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)--Disney Co.'s Walt Disney World has reached a tentative labor agreement with its largest employee union.

However, one of the six groups fronted by the Service Trades Council will recommend its members oppose the deal. The Teamsters, which represent bus operators, parking attendants, laundry workers and others, says the pay raises are too low at top scale and health-care costs are too high.

The council represents 21,000 of Disney World's 60,000 employees, from food service to merchandise personnel, lifeguards, vacation planners, stage technicians and janitors.

The proposed contract carries pay raises of at least 4% for the majority workers. Supporters say it will improve pension benefits and could help solve scheduling problems.

The Teamsters says employees would be shouldering an unfair health care burden.

"People who make only a few dollars an hour have the same contribution amount as" vice presidents, said Donna-Lynne Dalton, organizer for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 385.

Service Trades Council president Morty Miller said Thursday a final vote had not been scheduled.

The council's last contract expired April 28, but was extended in negotiations. A simple majority must approve the new deal.