Resorts Hotel workers protest at DLR (32 ARRESTED)

[Tom Morrow]

Hotel workers protest at Disneyland Resort

Workers dress like 'toons to protest Disney Unite Here Local 681 wants pay increase for hotel workers at resort Orange County Register Members of the union representing 2,300 workers at at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian and Paradise Pier hotels dressed as cartoon characters and protested at the park Tuesday morning. The pickets are part of an ongoing effort by the union to influence contract talks that are underway between the union, Unite Here Local 681, and Disney management. Unite Here 681 President Ada Briceño complained that Disney’s proposals have included a two-tiered wage system under which new union workers would not make the same wages as veteran union workers in the same positions. Briceño said contracts proposed by Disney included provisions that would raise employee contributions to health insurance to $100 or more a month, and that some part-time workers would be ineligible for benefits. She said a strike vote was not out of the question."We’re hoping not to go there, but we need to do whatever it takes," she said. The talks have been rocky from the start. Unite Here workers have been working without a contract since the end of January and at first refused to even meet with Disney, though the company set up negotiating venues at resort-area hotels. Both sides started negotiations with a federal mediator this spring. Disney spokeswoman Lisa Haines said Disneyland management has good relations with the other 23 unions organizing workers at the Anaheimpark. Haines said two contracts negotiated with other park workers’ unions in recent months took only two weeks of bargaining. by Andrew Townsend complete article

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[#1DisneyFreak]

isn't one of the benefits of having worked for awhile at a company that you would make more money than one of the new people coming in....?

[sincitymike]

Yes. I'm not sure how their contract reads, but am VERY familiar with Teamster & Culinary contracts here in Vegas. Here @ the resorts, you will always start @ 80% of the salary base in the contract. You don't reach 100% until your year anniversary. After your 6month, you are raised up to 90%. This is done as an incentive for new-hires to stay on and not go to another hotel. Oh, also most contracts in Vegas give an automatic 3% cost of living - so somewhere within your first year you also get about a $0.30 to $0.65 cent raise.

As far as the medical...I thought legally you had to offer part timers a medical benefit? This became a huge issue @ Outback Steakhouse when I mentioned the case with Wal-Mart not offering medical to part time employees. I know at my company (Chili's) I pay over $175.00 a month for a bare bones medical plan. I will be opting for a Union medical plan in October thanks to my cater waiter work and that will cost me $350/month, but will be decreased by my total hours worked each period. It's also the best medical plan in Vegas. I just wish I could put my dog on it!

[tomserwin]

To be honest, the real reason I looked at the article was to see pictures of people protesting in costumes.

[Alex_Toto_Disneyland]

I can imagine Mary Poppins Protesting.... hehe
-Alex

[Tom Morrow]

Picketers continue to protest Disneyland hotels

Pickets continue to protest Disney during contract dispute Orange County Register Though workers from UNITE HERE 681 have stopped short of holding a strike vote, the union that represents several thousand hotelworkers at the three Disneyland hotels continues to protest at the resort. Current negotiations are ongoing between the resort and the union, and the union has publicly complained about the negotiating process in addition to their demonstrations. This morning, July 17th, they added a mariachi band to their picketing, a nod to the park’s 53rd anniversary. The same union organizes workers at Angel Stadium, the Sheraton and Hilton in Anaheim’s resort area. by Sally French complete article

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[LCDLBA]

My opinion could possibly not be popular....but I just have to say, if you aren't happy with your wage wouldn't it make sense to seek a different career path? No one is forced to stay with an employer, why not find something that they are happier with their earned wage? Just a thought.

[ozzsoad]

^I have to agree. I wish I were lucky enough to have a job on any part of that property, I couldn't imagine having any room to complain.

[ryguy222]

^But some people make this their final career goal. And lots of people have for quite a while, but if the wages get cut, you've got every right to protest about it. I'm sure they all enjoy their jobs, but they would have to quit because of cuts.

However in this case, I'm not to sure why they are protesting. Whoever has been working the longest, gets more money, thats how it is at any company. Now if the regular, new people made X amount, and the vetrans made Y amount, and they changed it so new people get less than x, and vetrans get X then I can see a reason for protest. If everyone salary is cut fine, but I don't think thats what happened.
Now I can understand if the newer people are protesting because they may have had medical benifits and they don't get it anymore, I'd protest too. However in this article it makes it seem like they are protesting the two tiered system.

[stephaniestracener]

I was there this last week with my son's Tae Kwon Do Academy for the Korean festival Hanmadang, (at the Anaheim convention center) one of the families from our Academy that went has a child 4 year old with luekemia and Make-a-wish sponsored a trip to Disneyland for them while we were down there, they stayed at the Paradise Pier hotel, every morning they were awoken at 6:00 am. by a striker that was using a bullhorn, and chanting, they also used drums...I don't know enough about the strike to say how these people should conduct themselves but they should know that this child's trip was ruined by their behavior. They are the kind of nice people that felt grateful to even be able to go and would never say anything, but as someone who has heard what they had to deal with I feel so sorry for them...a sick 4 year old does not deserve to be put in the middle of a labor dispute...seriously.

[ryguy222]

^Thats terrible!
Not just for someone with leukemia, but for anyone who is staying their! Most people don't wake up that early when they're on vacation. If I was staying there, I'd go down and yell back at them, and tell them I'm trying to sleep.
One thing I'd like to know, is if they are required to have a permit to protest there. I'm not too familliar with the law in California but if you want a protest in AZ you need a permit.
All this because of a rule that 99.9 percent of all companies in the US use. Ridiculous!

[austen]

I didnt see a post on this already.. so if there is, sry.

but on msnbc news it said that peter pan, tinkerbell, and some other Disneyland characters were arrested for protesting and not obeying street rules.

Im not sure if i'm allowed to copy and paste the article here or not...


so yea, its on the news.

[Tom Morrow]

32 protesters arrested

Hotel workers stage 15th protest outside Disneyland At least 28 arrests were made by police during the 1,000-person rally Orange County Register Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell, Aladdin and about 1,000 of their supporting friends held up traffic in Anaheim on Thursday evening. The union representing workers at three Disneyland hotels marched from the Paradise Pier Hotel to the Disneyland entrance on Harbor Boulevard from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the union's 15th protest. The 1,000 marchers neared the Disneyland Resort entrance at Disney Way and Harbor Boulevard and took to a run to charge then stand and sit in the middle of the intersection. Leaders said before the protest that they intended to get arrested by police for standing in the middle of Harbor Boulevard even after being asked to leave. After several minutes, Anaheim police ordered the crowd to clear the streets. While most of the marchers left to stand on nearby sidewalks, a somewhat predetermined group sat down and held hands as an intended disobedience of police orders. Police then arrested those sitting in the street – including people dressed as Mickey Mouse, Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Minnie Mouse, Aladdin and Snow White. by Sonya Smith and Adam Townsend complete article and PHOTOS

Related Article:
Cinderella, others arrested in Disneyland labor protest
CNN - Associated Press

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[BCC]

And I missed it yesterday...

Anywho...if you don't like it, I hear In N Out pays a lot better. You always have a choice people.

[atbsfire]

I actually agree with some of the stuff they are protesting about ....