WDW workers vote to authorize a strike!

[coldfire409]

I never thought I'd see the day when this has happened. This vote was much closer the results are
3,686 -- NO
2,827 -- YES

Disney's third "Best and Final" offer was defeated. The next step will be to bring in a federal medator. However, we will not be able to reach an agreement until the profit numbers are out on Nov. 18 for the entire year.

[Polar33]

As odd as this is to say, I wish my contract negotions had gone as well as yours.

The newly formed Disneyland foods union approved a contract last week that basically screws over everyone that it is supposed to help. I'm fairly pissed as I am one of the people that it will affect the most. There was a good number of no votes, but the majority of the yes votes were primarily made up of newer CMs who didn't fully understand what the contract ment.

[Thatguy]

polar, are you a part of the faction of HERE? I've heard rumors of thier ratification and what it entailed but would like to get official word. if you are here would you mind posting or pming me the details?

[Polar33]

Heh..."faction of HERE"...sounds like a militia.

Yep, Disneyland/DCA foods did split off from the old HERE local. I'll be happy to go into more detail, but not right now. That post may get quite long, and I'm supposed to be asleep right now.

[Thatguy]

our negotiations didn't go so well this year either, at first it was voted no overwhelmingly, then the company added a bonus check upon ratification (read 30 peices of silver.) and it passed.

[coldfire409]

What started out as a really good fight ended recently. The exact same contract that was overwhelmingly voted against got radified a week later. By the almost the same vote margin. I hate to say this but early next year I will no longer be able to afford to work for Disney. I like what I do, but I have to think about myself first. The apathy of many of the CM's didn't help matters. As it currently stands my second part time job isn't really leading anywhere. I'm going to see what I can do in the next few months and create a new resume. When I do leave I'll make sure I let everybody know on SGT. I'm actually looking for something outside of Florida. Perhaps something in NYC or Washington, D.C. I've always liked the northeast and I must live in a big city.

[DizneyDad59]

Seriously!
I'm just a dad who, with his daughter, loves WDW and all you CMs do to make our vacations magical. (OK, I read the xxx thread...so long as none of you hit on my daughter! :twisted: )
What could we do as non-CMs to encourage that giant money-sucking maw that is the Corporation to start paying you good folks a living wage?
I've been to WDW 7 times--heading back in December--and I can honestly say I've never had anything but wonderful (and above and beyond, too) treatment from all the CMs I've ever encountered. Even when I qualified for a 'sign.'
I've been over to the Laughing Place sort of duking it out with a very small minority of posters who have nothing but trash talk for CMs. (They all hold APs, if that explains anything.)
I'd love to start a grassroots campaign for the top brass to begin sharing the wealth with the folks who really make the magic happen.
sincerely,
Phillip

[thundercatjamie]

Well for the next 3 years not much can be done for us at WDW. And still after that we will go through the same thing all over again.

[coldfire409]

The fight can keep on. Eventhough we have a contract radified it just limits us on what we can do. There will still be protests, leafleting, and other activities going on. What we do now is embarass Disney in the public. Let the public know that they pay sub-poverty wages, and that they are asking their workers take concessions while they make money. What I have to say to everybody right now is do not work a 7th day, or over 14 hours. If they force you and you're not the least senior person working file a grievance. If that happens you still get the double time, and embarass Disney at the same time. One thing I have to say to Disney is good luck staffing Grad Nite, Night of Joy, New Year's, and all other special events. One thing that worked against us is the apathy of the workers. Even with Disney bussing people, and paying you if you voted, only 49% of all elegible CMs voted. The apathy of the WDW cast is horrible. Everybody can bitch when things don't go their way, but when they have an oppertunity to change it they won't do anything about it. Many of the nonmembers claim that it's a weak union. But, if nobody does anything, or is unwilling to do anything, nothing gets done.