Unusual (strange) incident at Disneyland

[theOCdisney]

We witnessed a very strange incident at Storyteller's Cafe at the Grand Californian over the weekend. We were seated for dinner at 5:00 pm and there was a large crowd behind us. By 5:45 every table was full. All at once people from about half the tables began clapping in unison and stood up. Then a woman in a minister's collar stood in the central open area of the restaurant and began speaking. Her speech was about the striking workers out in front of the hotel. (I was aware of the strike before we came. It has been in all the local papers. I won't get into the reasons for the strike so as not to violate Dis rules.) Anyway, she went on for several minutes during which time her supporters passed out flyers about the strike to all the customers. Security did not arrive. The restaurant turned the music up to try to drown her out, but she started shouting to be heard above the music. Finally she ended her demonstration and all her supporters clapped and walked out behind her. This left the restaurant half-full at 6:00 on a Friday night. No doubt they had turned away several walk-ins and people calling for reservations. It appeared that none of them ordered food and the bread baskets delivered to their tables went untouched. All the set-ups had to be replaced and the bread tossed. The real shame was that the waiters were left with unoccupied tables at what should have been the busiest time of the evening. The demonstrators at the table right next to us left a $10.00 bill for the waiter. I'm not sure everyone did the same. There were several tables of 8-10 that were now empty.

About 5 minutes after the demonstrators left, security descended on the restaurant. They were a very visable presence at the hotel the rest of the night.

Just thought I'd share.

 

[Quilter007]

that's just pathetic. It does nothing for their cause, screws up the people who work at Storytellers and irritates people who want to eat!

 

[Chuck S]

As this is not a DVC specific topic, I am moving this to the Community Board.

While I am sympathetic to the needs of workers, I agree with the previous poster that this is NOT the way to garner support for your cause with the general public. Shame on them.

 

[Nikisha421]

I am at the Grand Californian right now...this place seems so uptight that I couldn't even imagine anyone having the nerves enough to do such a thing

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I have no idea what the strike is about (and honestly don't care) but if you're mad at Disneyland, why would you pay money TO DISNEY just to go there and give a speech.


Weird.
And unbelievably annoying. I would have been so irritated and probably would have crumbled the flyer up and thrown it at someone for interrupting my meal.

Not a good way to garner support, IMO.

 

[bumbershoot]

Talking about the union there doesn't go against the dis rules, as far as I know.

From what I know (reading on mouseplanet), this isn't a 'strike'. This is the union getting attention to take attention away from the fact that they have not sat down with Disney to talk about things. The hotel employees are working (not striking) without a contract, because the union won't sit down and talk.

What's sad is that this group was at a restaurant with employees from that same union (there are several unions that cover Disneyland Resort).

Also, from the mouseplanet info, not all protesters are actually employees...seems the union likes to pad its protests.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Union organizing is passionate stuff. They do what they think is the most effective thing.

Years ago, I borrowed my Dad's car to go to the car dealers in the area to buy a car for myself.

I never could get there, had to cross union lines and they were bashing cars with their signs.

I'm not a huge supporter of unions, but there are times when they are needed, even now.

 

[bumbershoot]

They do what they think is the most effective thing.

From what I've read, that does not apply in this case with this union.

 

[Judy from Boise]

The main issue is that they want workers to continue getting FREE healthcare.