So (IF) CM's decided to strike...

[papamouse1]

One person can't run a ride alone obviously but they can fill in for one of those positions if needed. If there was a strike it would not affect daily operations to the point of shutting down the major rides like EE.

Disney is much more prepared for a situation like this then you seem to believe. I can assure you that contingency plans have always been in place for scenarios like this as long as there have been threats of strikes. This isn't remotely the first one or will it be the last one in the history of the company.

Well said...
A major company like Disney is well prepared for scenarios like this. They have to be. Seriously, if airlines can have union strikes and still operate safely, I think we will be OK at WDW

 

[papamouse1]

I think I would most likely cancel my trip(s). Not sure I would trust some management person or scab to run the rides..

Hmmm, yet you go there and trust people who you have no idea how much training they had anyway

... and may have actually been trained to do their job by the management person covering the ride

I do respect your position luvthemouse (not crossing picket lines), that makes more sense than fear over safety.

 

[sbell111]

how many just to run EE? 4 at load, 2 at unload, then you have the single rider line CM, the FP machine Cm's, both cue lines (regular and FP) and then the tower (control room). Thats alot for one supervisor to do.

How many of those CMs are part-timers who aren't going to strike and will likely crave the additional hours made available by the strike?

 

[WDSearcher]

I think I would most likely cancel my trip(s). Not sure I would trust some management person or scab to run the rides..

The supervisors are one thing.. A scab who is being brought in is another. talking about ride operation here.

Plus, we've seen how cutting back staffing can affect the experiences of guests. I would most likely just reschedule for when it's blown over. Not a fan of crossing picket lines either.

But has cutting back staffing affected the SAFETY of Guests? Have there suddenly been boatloads of accidents and Guest injuries? If it's about "trusting" people to run the rides, I think it's just silly to assume Disney would just toss any old person in there when safety (and potential lawsuits) is an issue.

Not to mention that there are plenty of non-union CMs who would continue to work even if the union CMs went on strike. It's not likely Disney would have to hire that many people to cover, when you consider managers and others already trained.

A perfect example is just after the hurricanes a few years ago. Scores of CMs were either unable to get to work or needed to be at home to deal with damages, injuries, insurance claims, etc. The parks opened at full service a day and a half afterwards, with managers, part-timers, seasonal staff and even some retirees running attractions, serving food, cleaning resort rooms and handling characters. I'm thinking no one even noticed that.

I'd also be interested to know how many Guests would even be aware there was a picket line to cross. Any picket is going to be set up well outside the park perimeters. It's not like there will be a line of picket signs at the turnstiles. At Disneyland, it's possible. At World? Nope.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

The supervisors are one thing.. A scab who is being brought in is another. talking about ride operation here.

Plus, we've seen how cutting back staffing can affect the experiences of guests. I would most likely just reschedule for when it's blown over. Not a fan of crossing picket lines either.

Again, anyone who is not fully trained on the ride will NOT be in a position of compromising safety. It just isn't done. Period. If for no other reason, Disney is a business. They are in it to make money and lots of it. They aren't about to make themselves liable for guest injuries.

The large number of College Programmers would be getting a looot of over time.

Absolutely! The perms will be drooling over the possibility of overtime, the CRs will love the extra hours and there is even a huge list of CTs that can be called in at a moment's notice.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't know if they're unionized, or the status of their contract, but a strike by bus drivers might have a large impact at WDW.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I don't know if they're unionized, or the status of their contract, but a strike by bus drivers might have a large impact at WDW.

Very true. Much more so than if the attractions CMs decided to strike.

Also, I would be more concerned if the maintenance crews went on strike than if the attractions CMs went on strike. Maintenance is really more responsible for the safety of the attractions.

 

[Hook's Girl]

The large number of College Programmers would be getting a looot of over time.

How many of those CMs are part-timers who aren't going to strike and will likely crave the additional hours made available by the strike?

Both of these.

There are loads and loads of College Program kids who would be getting lots of overtime. There is also a long wait list of part time workers who want to go full time, in attractions.

I work in a non-union role and there are still plenty of my colleagues who are still qualified to work in different areas and would eat up the overtime.

 

[Polydweller]

Well, if WESH TV is accurate, you don't need to worry. They just reported that Disney reached a tentative agreement with the largest union representing 20,000 employees.

 

[goofy4tink]

Didn't the article say that there were something like 6 separate unions that cover WDW? I doubt that having one strike would have a huge effect on the operations of the place. Heck, the one particular DisneyLAND union (also one of several) has been protesting for years now, and it hasn't messed up anything (and they still haven't gone on strike since it's all a big media thing anyway, it seems).[/QUOTE
Oh please, don't bog us down with logic and truth!!! The group in the news at the moment is certainly not large enough to be an issue.

I don't know if they're unionized, or the status of their contract, but a strike by bus drivers might have a large impact at WDW.

Yep, that would be an issue, to say the least. Can you just imagine bringing in drivers who are not familier with the roads there??? It would be a nightmare.

 

[reiella]

how many just to run EE? 4 at load, 2 at unload, then you have the single rider line CM, the FP machine Cm's, both cue lines (regular and FP) and then the tower (control room). Thats alot for one supervisor to do.

Well, typically, there should be more than one supervisor for a given ride [perhaps not on normal days at a given time, but for each shift etc]. In the event of a strike, I imagine most will be working mandatory overtime [gogo gadget salary!] and thus more of them would out and about.

I imagine it would work much like other industries with time-sensitive labor during a strike. Perhaps even relocating management staff from other locations to handle the surplus need.

 

[sparklynails23]

I imagine it would work much like other industries with time-sensitive labor during a strike. Perhaps even relocating management staff from other locations to handle the surplus need.

It often doesn't work well in other industries, with increased accidents and decreased production. Managers always dread this scenario, so I'm not sure how "magical" they would be. I'll go to Universal if a Disney union strikes.

 

[GEB@okw]

The SCABS are the people who are striking, not the people who are trying to work for a living.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

The SCABS are the people who are striking, not the people who are trying to work for a living.

You of course are wrong. Scab is a real term for people who cross the picket line to work in jobs held by strikers. Without the power to strike we who do most of the working would have to take what management offers, and wages for us would be worse. Your opinion adds nothing to this discussion.

 

[kikiq]

Both of these.

There are loads and loads of College Program kids who would be getting lots of overtime. There is also a long wait list of part time workers who want to go full time, in attractions.

I work in a non-union role and there are still plenty of my colleagues who are still qualified to work in different areas and would eat up the overtime.

I agree. Between Casual Temp, College Program, and Part Time folks who are all trained and qualified in their areas, I don't know that a guest would notice the difference. My DD was in the CP and was asked if she was interested in Casual Temp for the summer/holidays. Add to that the front line managers who trained those folks and are well qualified to step in when needed.

 

[ftballfan7]

You of course are wrong. Scab is a real term for people who cross the picket line to work in jobs held by strikers. Without the power to strike we who do most of the working would have to take what management offers, and wages for us would be worse. Your opinion adds nothing to this discussion.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Both of these.

There are loads and loads of College Program kids who would be getting lots of overtime. There is also a long wait list of part time workers who want to go full time, in attractions.

I work in a non-union role and there are still plenty of my colleagues who are still qualified to work in different areas and would eat up the overtime.

hours go up,,,grades go downnnnnnn.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

so part-time workers aren't union members? when i was part-time in the movie business (for over 30 years) even we had to join the union. i was in local 396 of IATSE

 

[ftballfan7]

Well, if WESH TV is accurate, you don't need to worry. They just reported that Disney reached a tentative agreement with the largest union representing 20,000 employees.

That is good news. I hope they got a fair deal that moves towards a decent living wage.

 

[WDSearcher]

hours go up,,,grades go downnnnnnn.

I don't know ... I worked three jobs (an assistantship, weekends at a restaurant and 30 hrs/wk at a front desk) in addition to a full time load at grad school. Never got below a B+ (and I'm STILL mad about that!).