Strike Update at SWAN/DOLPHIN as of 5/29

[Tony P. IL.]

100 hotel workers protest contract offer

By Robert Johnson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 29, 2002
About 100 workers at two hotels on Walt Disney World property picketed against a new contract offer on Monday, although some of those protesting didn't actually walk off their jobs on strike.

"It's unclear how many of the folks walking our picket line are on their days off or time off, but the point is they're turning out to show their dissatisfaction with the way they're treated," said Mike Stapleton, president of Teamsters Local 385.

Those picketing the Swan and Dolphin hotels included housekeepers, laundry workers, seamstresses and public area attendants. Last week they rejected for a second time a three-year contract that covers about 200 of the hotels' 2,000 employees.

Some workers said the contract being offered proposes annual wage increases of 2 percent, 2.5 percent and 3 percent in each of the next three years. "But what good is a raise when we're full time and our hours are cut sometimes to 24 a week?" said Avis LaGuerre, who cleans public restrooms, among other areas, and has worked at the Swan for seven years.

Although the hotels are on Disney property, they are owned by Tishman Hotel Corp. and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The contract negotiations are with Starwood.

"We have decided not to comment on the contract package being offered," spokeswoman Treva Marshall said.

But she said the contract's benefits are "similar to those being offered by leaders in our industry."

The key demand, some of the picketers said, is a guaranteed 32-hour workweek. But that's something that isn't promised to workers at Walt Disney World hotels or theme park employees.

Al McKenna, an Orlando attorney whose labor-management clients include Starwood, said the protest by Swan and Dolphin workers "is a reflection of worker frustration over a contract offer that management thinks is fair based on the economics of these two hotels."

He said the strike "is a gamble that the workers can squeeze management into coming to the table with a better offer."

The Swan and Dolphin, like other Disney World hotels, with a total of 2,267 rooms, typically adjust workers' hours depending on their occupancy rates.

Marshall said the workers' protest isn't having much impact. "It's business as usual," she said.

Marshall also said that despite the protest, "We have not had any work stoppage." That would indicate that many workers, and perhaps even some protesters, are crossing the picket lines.

That's understandable, said Jose Cruz, a 12-year Swan employee who is a public attendant. Although he picketed Tuesday, he said, "Most workers here just can't afford to lose hours."

The last strike at a Disney property hotel was in 1996 at the independently operated Grosvenor, where 60 people walked off the job and picketed. They were all fired. In 1998, a federal judge ordered them reinstated.

But Starwood management tried to sound more benevolent on Tuesday. "No one will be fired for exercising their rights," Marshall said.

Robert Johnson can be reached at 407-420-5775 or rwjohnson@orlandosentinel.com.


Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel

 

[Doctor P]

Thanks for the interesting update.

 

[Tinkbell]

Our local news casts have been broadcasting this story. They don't quite have all of their facts straight. They say that Disney hotel workers are on strike. They don't make the distiction between Starwood & Disney. Anyways, I hope that the strike is not disrupting any vacations. Sounds like it is under control.

 

[dalepool]

I have reservations at the swan. Sould the resort still be on strike when we arrive (sometime from now) I would be forced to move to another hotel. We are from a union town. I would feel I had committed an injustice were I to cross a picket line. How do you all handle this issue? I hope this is all settled by our arrival date. Thanks PattyN

 

[jruj]

I know this is most likely a stupid question, but are the employees striking or are they having an informational picket? From the artical it almost sounds like an informational picket. Employees are reporting for work, all work is being completed but, employees are letting the public know they are having a specific problem they would like addressed. I know the media is calling this a strike but we all know the media can make mistakes.

As a very proud union firefighter I can not strike, however, in the past my department has held several informational pickets with great success.

I ask this because I will not cross an actual strike line. If on the other hand it is an informational picket where union members are reporting to work, while others man the picket line, it seems to me that keeping my ressie for next month would be the best option for my family and the S/D employees. If occupancy falls, so does the need for staff, which means fewer hours, which is the reason for the picket in the first place.

I know I am starting to ramble, so if anyone can verify the true nature of the pickets I would be grateful. Thank you.