Union contracts up for votes at Disney World

[mickeymule]

Fixed, thanks randytenn

(Orlando Sentinel) Thousands of Walt Disney World employees will vote next week on a new union contract after months of negotiations that failed once before to produce an agreement.

However, a union leader acknowledged that negotiations likely will continue even if union members vote against the contract.


Disney and the Service Trades Council -- a group that negotiates for about 20,000 workers from six individual local unions -- head into the latest round of negotiations with at least one union critical of company proposals on issues such as health insurance and pensions.


The unions represent a wide range of employees, including characters, food and beverage workers, housekeepers, stage technicians, bus drivers and lifeguards.


Disney's existing three-year contract was extended after the two sides failed to reach an agreement before the contract's original expiration date of May 1. The latest union vote is scheduled for Aug. 6.


Joe Condo, president of the Service Trades Council, said he expects to continue discussing economic issues with Disney until at least mid-August.


The majority of non-economic issues such as work rules and changes to grievance procedures have already been settled, Condo said. Disney is expected to make its first offers on wages and some other economic issues next week, he said.


"This vote is so people can understand where we are with non-economic items and update them on where we are with the first week of negotiations for economic issues," he said.


There has never been a strike at Disney.


Jerry Montgomery, a senior vice president for Disney who is involved in the negotiations, said it's too soon to comment on the negotiations.


"There's still a lot of work to do before we could comment," Montgomery said.


The Service Trades Council represents The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 631; United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1625; Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, Locals 737 and 362; Teamsters, Local 385; and Transportation Communications International Union, Local 1908.


Comments posted on two union Web sites reflect frustration with some of the company's proposals so far.


Disney wants union workers to pay the same weekly costs for health insurance as non-union workers and executives pay, Local 362 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union, or HERE, said on its site. The United Food and Commercial Workers posted the same information.


The company hasn't yet made a proposal on wages or overtime pay, but Disney is expected to offer bonuses rather than wage increases, Local 362 said.


"So as the cost of gas, bread, milk, rent, medical insurance go up over the next one, two, three years, workers will have to pay the increased costs out of last year's -- or in the case of topped-out workers, 2000's -- rate of pay," the site said. "This is outrageous!"


Local 362 said it's also unhappy with a proposal by Disney to increase the number of part-time positions, a move that might reduce the number of full-time positions. Disney also is proposing that workers hired after the contract is ratified would not be covered by the company's pension plan or receive personal time off, the union said.

 

[randytenn]

There has never been a strike at Disney

Perhaps this should read "at Walt Disney World"

There was a strike when the unions were formed at Disney in the 30's.

 

[Bstanley]

Disneyland has had at least one strike.

 

[mickeymule]

(Associated Press) Union officials are urging members to reject a contract offer covering almost half of Walt Disney World's more than 50,000 employees, claiming it is as tightfisted as anything Scrooge McDuck would concoct.

Leaders of the Service Trades Council Union, a coalition that covers about 22,000 costumed characters, ticket takers, food service workers, housekeepers, bellhops and bus drivers, recommended rejecting the preliminary offer when members voted on it today.


"I don't believe later down the road when we've got the company's final offer, we're going to be looking at this proposal as it is," said Joe Condo, president of the Service Trades Council Union.


"But I can't understand why they want to upset their workforce by even putting something as terrible as this out."


Although a strike isn't being considered right now, union officials have not ruled one out. In past years, the first votes on preliminary contract offers were a way for union members to learn about the provisions before union and company officials headed back to the negotiating table.


The previous contract expired in May but has been extended.


"We have not completed our bargaining on economic items so the current offer on the table does not reflect a finalized offer from the company," Jerry Montgomery, Disney World's senior vice president for public affairs, said in a statement.


Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak wouldn't comment further.


Among the provisions union officials oppose:


• The elimination of overtime pay except when employees work more than 40 hours a week.


• A 1% wage increase for non-tipped workers who have not reached top scale, which usually occurs after six years of service, and a $500 bonus for workers at the maximum pay rate.


• The elimination of company pension plans for new employees, encouraging them instead to invest in 401(k) plans.


• The elimination of free health insurance offered to employees at Disney, which has five plans.

 

[ztbz]

Just got word that the Disney Contract offer to the Service Trades has been Rejected, only 15 members voted yes.

Z

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Kind of funny but in the past when I had spoken to people who worked for Disney (outside the park) they would say what a great company they worked for. Last couple of years I have run into people and they really do not have anything great to say. I was speaking to a salesperson who mentioned her financee worked for Disney and she just rolled her eyes and said,"you know how THEY are". I ran into a couple of people at Universal who had worked for Disney for many years and they were willing to spill their guts(so to speak). I know we are discusssing a business but I guess the best analogy for me would be if I was six years old and I heard that Santa's elves went on strike. I hate that the magic does not permiate all the way through the organization. It is sort of like Dorothy when she pulls the curtain and finds out the wizard is not magic just a man.

I just returned yesterday and let me tell you just observing the employees it was obvious that these are people not loving their jobs. I do not see the same standards in dress or appearance and I do not see the same level of courtesy that I have observed in the past. You know what they say , " the fish rots from the head down". I fully support the Disney employees in their plight and only hope that a miracle can happen and the same feeling will pervade the park again in the future.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***" The elimination of overtime pay except when employees work more than 40 hours a week."***

When do they get paid overtime now ? None of the business' I deal with pay overtime for anything less then 40.

 

[Lesley]

When I was a member of the UFCW (not at Disney) per our contract we got overtime for working on Sunday. That was great for me as a college student!

While that was nice I can't see it being that way at Disney....I would guess they'll trade that point in order to actually get a raise. 1%? That's pretty much nothing....and its not like these folks are making big bucks to begin with.

 

[KidDurango]

Currently they get ovetime after 8 hours in a day, or on their sixth day within the work week. So conceivably they could work 6 six hour days (36 hours total) and get 6 hours of overtime. They also currently get double time on the seventh day if they work seven days in a week.

 

[manning]

It's mandated by federal law/regulations. If you are exempt overtime does not apply.

 

[DancingBear]

I believe federal law only requires overtime payment for over 40 hours of work in any work week, and Florida law requires overtime for over 10 hours of work in any work day. Apparently, under the existing agreement Disney pays overtime for over 8 hours of work in any work day.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"Apparently, under the existing agreement Disney pays overtime for over 8 hours of work in any work day."***

One shop I deal with tried doing this but a few employees ruined it for everyone. Guys would work Mon-Thurs, 10 hrs each, call in sick on Fri and still get paid 44 hrs. I doubt that is happening at Disney.

 

[manning]

It's been a looong time since I worked under overtime rules and they may change from time to time.

We worked a 7 hour forty five minute day. If we worked overtime we got paid straight time the first 15 minutes, then overtime. If we had to work saturday (never worked sunday) and didn't work 40 hours then we were paid straight time until we hit 40 hours then got paid overtime.