That "fateful" day

Weeble · Post by **Weeble** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:01 pm

So, up until now, the only place I have ever told the story of the why and how of my termination from D-land was on the hasbeens.com website.

Time to bust it out for my friends at STG :twisted:

On a fateful day in tomorrowland, I was working Eo and R360, people had been pocketing money from the R360 and word was that they were watching out for it, I am not a thief so I did not concern myself with it, What I am however is a rule-bender and when my friend from Custodial, Jeff W. asked me if he could ride for free after his shift I said yes. He came back after work and rode. A few minutes later, who should appear but my dear friend and supporting Manager, Steve "I've got a huge ass" A. He took me back to security where they accused me of stealing money, claiming a fox had seen me do it and that someone rode for free, I claimed innocence, now get this: The Gestapo then told me that they had already talked to my friend that I let ride and that he had signed a statement and would be fired if I did not admit responsibility. Keep in my mind that Jeff is my Best Friend from HS and to this day is my number one boy. I asked for a union rep and they sent Diane T. once again Local 451 gave management a hummer, she told me it was all true and that I should not let my friend out to dry. I signed a statement and it turns out in the end.... they had no Idea who the custodial cast member was, and it was another employee who turned me in!!! They fired me for theft, the reasoning? since Jeff did not pay for the ride, They lost their 4 dollars...5 years of service, over 20 written guest compliments, none of that meant a damn. I kept calling Eddie and Bob B. to back me up as they were my union reps, did they return my calls? of course not, I decided to back Jeff instead and help him get his job back as his union seemed to be trying to help and they did, I wrote a long letter describing for them that it was all my idea and they never fired Jeff.

Soooo, was I stealing or was it a forgiveable lapse in judgement? VOTE NOW!

coldfire409 · Post by **coldfire409** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 7:59 pm

Soyy for what has happened, but they hung you out to dry. It appreaed that they were out to get you. I don't even think you should have gotten anything more than a discussion or a verbal. Not even a reprimand. I hate to say this, but you should think about filing charges against your uninon for failure to represent.

Freak · Post by **Freak** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:42 pm

That's pretty screwed up....You shouldn't have been fired.

BirdMom · Post by **BirdMom** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 4:14 pm

Jeeze, Weeb, didn't you know the only people allowed "free rides" are part of Evil-Eisner's clique. We had the Mansion cleared out one day while Eisner and Wells argued over whether or not Eisner's son's soccer team would be able to get in free and get backdoored on everything. Wells wanted the majority to pay admission (his reasoning - they were from well-heeled families, wouldn't break the bank for them to pay for admission). Well, no Eisner won - had to be the big man and be generous to the rich spoiled brats. So you get 20 kids from the west side of L.A. plus coaches and helper moms in free, no big deal, but one D/L cast member gets a free ride - quick - hang the bastard who let the $4.00 slip away out to dry... :?

Weeble · Post by **Weeble** » Fri Dec 19, 2003 9:47 pm

I'd never heard that story before BirdMom...makes me pig-biting mad all over again.
:throw:

I learned a lot from that experience and Polar summed it up. You are expendable in the end. if the company needs to lay you off, they will lay you off with no qualms. That's why I don't go for that whole "do it for the company BS". I am more than happy to work hard and long hours, but I WILL be compensated for it!

BirdMom · Post by **BirdMom** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 6:20 pm

Weeble wrote:I'd never heard that story before BirdMom...makes me pig-biting mad all over again.

Were you around when it happenned? It was my first year in attractions, so it was sometime in 89/90. I can tell you, there were some ticked off r.o.'s that day, because clearing the stupid ride for them really f*d up our numbers for the day. Guess Mr. Charm wanted the brats to feel "special."
Can't you see his kid at school during the week - BMOC - 'yeah, my dad runs Disneyland, and he cleared everything out just for us. Dontcha wish you were my friend?'

CujoSR · Post by **CujoSR** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 8:26 pm

Hey but think about it now. You are a manager with 500 people under your supervision ( I may be exagerating a bit). You get paid a lot more than you would if you were still here. and you have no worries about getting fired over some stupid little thing... ummm yea.

BirdMom · Post by **BirdMom** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:17 pm

CujoSR wrote: You get paid a lot more than you would if you were still here. and you have no worries about getting fired over some stupid little thing... ummm yea.

I dunno about that one...so many places now make you sign a form upon hiring that you understand that they are "at will" employers, meaning they can fire you over any "stupid little thing." Of course, if it's a company that's downsizing, you might jump at the golden handshake and leap with a smile, but often as not, people don't get that lucky in the world outside Disney. The labor laws are being changed to protect the rights of the companies - screw the poor hourly schmucks that make the profits happen.

SRT_GB · Post by **SRT_GB** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 3:42 pm

um....I thought employment at will meant that I am employed at my own will and that the company or I can terminate it at any time for any reason. Well, at least, that's what I signed when I hired over 3 years ago.

Thatguy · Post by **Thatguy** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 7:42 pm

yeah, most employers have you sign the "at will" contract. but a contract is only as good as it holds up in court, and california is *not* an at will state.