NEWS: Disneyland hotel workers resort to hunger strike

[jedimaster1227]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/disney-hotel-workers-plan-to-launch-a-hunger-strike-in-dispute-over-health-care-benefits-.html

 

Hotel and restaurant workers engaged in a two-year labor dispute with Disney centering on heathcare benefits plan to launch a public hunger strike Tuesday afternoon outside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Seven Disney staffers, two solidarity workers from the same union and the son of a Disney worker injured on the job will participate in the fast, according to Unite Here Local 11, which represents the workers. The hunger-strikers say they plan to take only water as they camp on the street outside the hotel.

 

Among those expected to attend a march and rally to mark the beginning of the hunger strike, the union says, are religious leaders, Disney employees, an Anaheim city councilwoman and Dolores Huerta, legendary co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America. Union demonstrators will begin the rally outside Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and march to the nearby Grand Californian, said Leigh Shelton, a Local 11 spokeswoman.

 

The nasty dispute pits image-conscious Disney against Local 11, an activist union known for its high-profile pressure tactics and street theater protests, often on behalf of low-wage immigrant workers. Disney says that Local 11 has opted for grand-standing instead of negotiating and has called for a federal mediator to help resolve the matter. “This kind of tactic is not productive and is meant to distract from the fact that after two years Local 11 members are still without a contract,” said Suzi Brown, a Disney spokeswoman. “The company is ready to meet today with an independent federal mediator in the hopes of making progress on negotiations.” Disney calls Local 11’s demands unreasonable and denies union claims that workloads and injuries on the job have increased. More than 2,000 Disney employees represented by Local 11 have been working on an expired contract because of the dispute, which is based largely on healthcare benefits. Under the expired contract, the workers have been receiving nearly free healthcare.

 

Disney is seeking to shift the workers into its Signature plan, in which the company says it pays about 75% of premiums. Disney says workers’ share would be phased in over five years. According to Disney, 30 of the 31 unions represented at the resort already participate in the Signature plan, and only Local 11 has balked, even as healthcare costs have risen. But the union argues that some employees would eventually have to pay as much as $500 a month under the company plan. Disney calls the $500 figure inflated and says the true amount for full family coverage is closer to $250 a month.

[Steelinwood]

grand standing instead of negotiation? This has been going on for 2 years!

[Jew]

These guys are morons. 100% free healthcare? I can't believe the union has been able to brainwash their workers into thinking this is a good idea.

[ginzo]

^It is a great idea, if you can get it. A lot of executives negotiate *full* health, dental, and vision coverage. Meaning they don't pay a dime. A relative of mine has such good coverage that he even gets 100% free cosmetic dental. Aka Invisaline, veneers, whatever at no cost to him.

 

Unfortunately, health care has grown too expensive to give this to "regular" people now.

[Jew]

^Agreed. But that's not something a union for entry-level employees should be fighting for. Not even the more skilled labor unions are crazy enough to fight for that!

[ginzo]

^Yeah, and the hunger strike thing is just stupid and makes no sense. The dispute isn't over food benefits.

[monsterfan99]

Nothing says smart like trying to physically hurt yourself to get healthcare

[rcroques]

Like Disney management is really going to care that they're starving themselves?

 

Seriously, Disney will pay seventy-five percent leaving them with twenty-five percent, which is a pretty standard benefits package for a large company. Heck, it's the same for me working at Walmart.

 

How much you want to bet that it's not the employees that are fighting it, it's the union leaders? It's the same situation as the grocery strike in 2003; union leaders fight "for the employees" but really, all they do is stir up anger with the employees and don't do anything constructive. They fight for them, not you.

 

I'm not anti-union, I just don't see the point of paying someone dues in order to "protect you". Especially since California is an at-will state and from personal experience, that union membership won't shield you from the axe.

 

-- R.C.

[Sir Clinksalot]

The fact is, this is the ONLY union group that deals with Disney that hasn't taken the health care deal. I think there are something like 33 different union groups? This is ALL the Union's doing anyway. It's ridiculous.

 

Hell, I work for a health insurance company and STILL pay through the nose for my healthcare.