Disney Workers Deliver Petition signed by over 70% of Workers Rejecting Company's Latest Offer
Labor Desk
February 06, 2009
Community Members and Faith Leaders Stand with Workers to Protect Health Insurance and Living Wages.
Anaheim - 150 hotel workers were joined by faith leaders and community members as they delivered a petition to Disney management overwhelmingly rejecting the company's latest contract proposal. The petition was signed by over 1,600 workers, or about 75% of workers at the 3 Disney hotels.
In December, in a move that surprised workers and the union, Disney gave their "last, best and final offer." The company's offer demands huge takeaways, including moving workers into the Company's health care plan which would result in increased out of pocket expenses for workers during the life of the agreement and would create a two tier wage system with many of the proposed starting wages are poverty level wages.
"Disney's proposals are not only bad for workers but they are also bad for customers and therefore bad for business. Disney should learn a lesson from the grocery industry which tried a two tier wage system and saw it fail because it lowered worker morale, created huge attrition and negatively impacted customer service," said Ada Briceno, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 11. "These workers have given their lives to help make Disney profitable, now they are being asked to accept a two tier wage system and pay more out of pocket for medical expenses. Disney should be ashamed of itself for treating their workers in this way."
UNITE HERE Local 11 represents over 2,300 workers employed as restaurant servers, dishwashers, housekeepers, bellmen and in other service jobs, at the Disneyland Resort hotels. These workers have been working without a contract since February 2008. The Company's latest proposal would produce substantial hardship for Local 11's members, many of whom already struggle to make ends meet and the high cost of living in Orange County.
Jean Bustamante, a Server at the Yamabuki Restaurant at the Disney owned Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim says, "I am a single mother of two children. My 7 year old son has Cerebral Palsy as well as many other disabilities. With the company's proposal of "casual regular" he would surely lose his much needed health insurance."
Despite the Company's intransigence, workers will continue to take the fight to the streets. Over the course of the last year, Local 11 workers have organized and participated in 18 protests. Last summer 31 labor, community and clergy leaders were arrested outside the entrance of the Disneyland theme park. In December, more than 1,000 working families were in the streets for an unprecedented Posada procession and toy drive for the children of the Disneyland Resort hotel workers. Local 11 has also launched a campaign blog at www.disneyisunfaithful.org.
Anaheim - 150 hotel workers were joined by faith leaders and community members as they delivered a petition to Disney management overwhelmingly rejecting the company's latest contract proposal. The petition was signed by over 1,600 workers, or about 75% of workers at the 3 Disney hotels.
In December, in a move that surprised workers and the union, Disney gave their "last, best and final offer." The company's offer demands huge takeaways, including moving workers into the Company's health care plan which would result in increased out of pocket expenses for workers during the life of the agreement and would create a two tier wage system with many of the proposed starting wages are poverty level wages.
"Disney's proposals are not only bad for workers but they are also bad for customers and therefore bad for business. Disney should learn a lesson from the grocery industry which tried a two tier wage system and saw it fail because it lowered worker morale, created huge attrition and negatively impacted customer service," said Ada Briceno, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 11. "These workers have given their lives to help make Disney profitable, now they are being asked to accept a two tier wage system and pay more out of pocket for medical expenses. Disney should be ashamed of itself for treating their workers in this way."
UNITE HERE Local 11 represents over 2,300 workers employed as restaurant servers, dishwashers, housekeepers, bellmen and in other service jobs, at the Disneyland Resort hotels. These workers have been working without a contract since February 2008. The Company's latest proposal would produce substantial hardship for Local 11's members, many of whom already struggle to make ends meet and the high cost of living in Orange County.
Jean Bustamante, a Server at the Yamabuki Restaurant at the Disney owned Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim says, "I am a single mother of two children. My 7 year old son has Cerebral Palsy as well as many other disabilities. With the company's proposal of "casual regular" he would surely lose his much needed health insurance."
Despite the Company's intransigence, workers will continue to take the fight to the streets. Over the course of the last year, Local 11 workers have organized and participated in 18 protests. Last summer 31 labor, community and clergy leaders were arrested outside the entrance of the Disneyland theme park. In December, more than 1,000 working families were in the streets for an unprecedented Posada procession and toy drive for the children of the Disneyland Resort hotel workers. Local 11 has also launched a campaign blog at www.disneyisunfaithful.org.
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