Strike!

[goose]

Back in '84, one of my fellow merch. CM's had a sister-in-law who worked as a nurse. I'm not sure which of the nurses unions told them that if it got back to them that any of their number had crossed the Disney picketline, that there would be trouble. In general, no union members cross another unions' picket line. My father-in-law was a butcher, so we were shopping at Trader Joe's and Stater Brothers (despite our Vons/Ralphs preference) until the strike was settled. It's just not morally right.
...

Yes you were raised with certain principles. Some of us don't agree with YOUR principles. I don't see your views as "principles" either. When I think of principles I think of things like: do not lie, do not cheat, do not steal, do not kill. I see your views as political beliefs. You are entitled to your political beliefs. But you shouldn't be shocked when you come across people that don't agree with your political beliefs.

It's hard to say how many people disagree with your beliefs. This is because most people wouldn't automatically strike. Most people would actually think about it first and decide if it was a wise decision. I bet most people wouldn't strike just because everyone else is doing it, like you suggested they should. That's very childish. Aren't we supposed to be teaching our children not to give into peer pressure? To stand up for what they believe in?

Just because we don't agree with your political beliefs, that doesn't make us immoral people.

[CBeilby]

Yes you were raised with certain principles. Some of us don't agree with YOUR principles. I don't see your views as "principles" either. When I think of principles I think of things like: do not lie, do not cheat, do not steal, do not kill. I see your views as political beliefs. You are entitled to your political beliefs. But you shouldn't be shocked when you come across people that don't agree with your political beliefs.

It's hard to say how many people disagree with your beliefs. This is because most people wouldn't automatically strike. Most people would actually think about it first and decide if it was a wise decision. I bet most people wouldn't strike just because everyone else is doing it, like you suggested they should. That's very childish. Aren't we supposed to be teaching our children not to give into peer pressure? To stand up for what they believe in?

Just because we don't agree with your political beliefs, that doesn't make us immoral people.

And herein lies the problem. People have been raised in this day and age to believe, thanks to the political machines, that the unions are corrupt, that they don't do anything for the common man. Well, I suggest that you go back, and look at some of the labor history in this country. Without unions, we'd have no worker's compensation. We'd have no minimum wage. We'd have no safe workplace laws. While a lot of this stuff is based on groundwork laid in the 19'th and early 20'th centuries, we're seeing it again now. We're seeing it with places like WalMart, who mistreat their employees, and actively discourage them from organizing, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY TO PREVENT UNION ORGANIZATION. We're seeing it with our competition, at Knott's Berry Farm. Look at how people are treated over there. Cedar Fair wouldn't ever have been able to get away with that crap if we'd had a union over there when they bought the place out.

It all comes back to the old adage. Those who don't vote can't complain about what happens as a result of those who do.

[gurgi]

Perhaps there's a way to get most of the benefits of a strike without wiping out the life savings of most cast members.

I would respectfully suggest a one-day strike. This is a financial hit that nearly all of us could endure, so no one would have reason to cross the line. The value of a one-day strike would be to demonstrate to the Company just how unhappy and just how united the cast is over the issues at hand.

Perhaps knowing that the union was able to pull some sizable fraction of the cast out for that day (and knowing just how poorly the park was run without us) would have a beneficial effect in the negotiations.

Might be worth considering.

Zazu,
Steward-in-training,
UniteHERE 362

ok...i AM NOT a CM, but reading this...this has great merit.

Look at it...it could be seen/used as a threat as in all of you together saying "if you suits don't do something quick, this could and WOULD be the norm."
Think about it. If the TDA folks cant get their stuff together to operate the rides, and you folks are out front (in much larger numbers as more people would be willing to give up that one day of pay) with other union folks turning from the gate, vendors not coming in....if the unions are as united as you say..that ONE day would be a virtual shutdown. If you ask me, thats a pretty powerful bargaining chip to have, if its all played out correctly. Heck I couldnt give up paychecks for a strike, but to throw one day of pay out the window....yeah i'd be down, even two days of no pay.

AND, if what you say is true about vendors and visitors not crossing a picket line if hey are in unions out of respect....Well, I'd pick the day with the most traffic...including vendors making deliveries.

Can you say...TDA needs diapers?

Sometimes threats DO get better results...Don't rule out a good idea.

[pnutshuman]

ok... i AM NOT a CM, but reading this... this has great merit.

Look at it... it could be seen/used as a threat as in all of you together saying "if you suits don't do something quick, this could and WOULD be the norm."

Think about it. If the TDA folks cant get their stuff together to operate the rides, and you folks are out front (in much larger numbers as more people would be willing to give up that one day of pay) with other union folks turning from the gate, vendors not coming in... if the unions are as united as you say... that ONE day would be a virtual shutdown. If you ask me, thats a pretty powerful bargaining chip to have, if its all played out correctly. Heck I couldnt give up paychecks for a strike, but to throw one day of pay out the window... yeah i'd be down, even two days of no pay.

AND, if what you say is true about vendors and visitors not crossing a picket line if hey are in unions out of respect... Well, I'd pick the day with the most traffic... including vendors making deliveries.

Can you say... TDA needs diapers?

Sometimes threats DO get better results... Don't rule out a good idea.

Also not a CM but want to add, it would also be a great day to get as many AP's to go to the park with bagged lunches so they have a lot of "non paying" visitors. if no one crosses the line and goes in the park, then it doesnt matter if they dont have enough staff. id take a vacation day from work to participate, bring the kids bottled water and peanut butter sandwiches!!
{:

[PirateJohn]

And herein lies the problem. People have been raised in this day and age to believe, thanks to the political machines, that the unions are corrupt, that they don't do anything for the common man. Well, I suggest that you go back, and look at some of the labor history in this country. Without unions, we'd have no worker's compensation. We'd have no minimum wage. We'd have no safe workplace laws. While a lot of this stuff is based on groundwork laid in the 19'th and early 20'th centuries, we're seeing it again now. We're seeing it with places like WalMart, who mistreat their employees, and actively discourage them from organizing, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY TO PREVENT UNION ORGANIZATION. We're seeing it with our competition, at Knott's Berry Farm. Look at how people are treated over there. Cedar Fair wouldn't ever have been able to get away with that crap if we'd had a union over there when they bought the place out.

It all comes back to the old adage. Those who don't vote can't complain about what happens as a result of those who do.

I'm a little confused as to what this post has to do with goose's post to which you replied.

I don't think anybody in this thread has talked much about the union itself or whether it's a good or bad thing or whether it's corrupt or not. Frankly, I don't think that's even relevant. The discussion here is about an individual employee making a very important and very personal decision to strike.

[CBeilby]

What I am trying to do is point out to you, and all the other anti-union types is WHY we need unions. If you don't want to strike, or even take part in your union, that's fine. But if you don't take part in it, if you don't exercise your voice, then you lose all right to bitch about it. If you go on strike, well, guess what, you still can take another job in the interim. Yet because you don't want to stand up for yourself, you ignore the suggestion completely.

[PirateJohn]

What I am trying to do is point out to you, and all the other anti-union types is WHY we need unions. If you don't want to strike, or even take part in your union, that's fine. But if you don't take part in it, if you don't exercise your voice, then you lose all right to bitch about it. If you go on strike, well, guess what, you still can take another job in the interim. Yet because you don't want to stand up for yourself, you ignore the suggestion completely.

I still don't understand why you're getting so hostile about this. You're putting an awful lot of words in my mouth here, and I don't appreciate that. I get the feeling you haven't even tried seeing this from my perspective.

First of all, I've never "bitched" about anything. I've had suggestions for improvement here and there, but I've never been terribly unhappy with any situation. I've always viewed Disneyland as nothing more than a temporary job while I'm in school.

Secondly, one of my biggest pet peeves about this whole negotiation is that the union has not been very forthcoming. The onus should be on them to reach out to all the cast members they represent and make sure that the issues they're fighting for are really the issues that the members care about. If I'm going to pay union dues, then I expect them to do the work to solicit opinions instead of making me take time out of my crammed schedule to go to union meetings just to be heard.

Thirdly, I have no idea what suggestion you claim I'm ignoring completely. I've ignored nothing at all, and I think you're being very condescending by assuming I have. I have put a lot of thought into my decision and have come to the conclusion that the benefits of going on strike do not even come close to outweighing the risks.

[goose]

I'm confused about something. I went on Mice Age and read about the possible Attractions strike. On the site it said that employees might strike because TDA wants to change the 25 hours to 30 hours. (In regards to receiving benefits.) That's all it said.

When I read this I thought: that's it???? That's what everyone wants to strike over? Something that doesn't even effect them personally? Something that only effects future cast members?

Please tell me there are other issues that you guys want to strike over. Are you striking over pay, and scheduling issues?

I wouldn't even consider striking over that particular issue alone.

[cheshire]

I know that when the security contract came up for renewal, they received letters from their union telling their members about contract proposals and possible strikes. In fact, they get monthly letters about their union meeting minutes. I went to our union website and found nothing. Just info about the union. I just want to know why is it so hard to get info about upcoming contract talks or union meetings? Why do I have to track down a shop steward or drive (35 miles one way) to a union meeting just to get information. Am I wrong or is there a way I don't know about yet. And, if there is a possibility of a strike, why isn't there any news coverage of it. When the grocery stores went on strike they covered before, during and after. I guess I'm just looking to get some information and it's frustrating to find nothing official.

[pnutshuman]

Heh...in the event of a strike I plan on going to the park to watch my managers in the chaos. Perhaps a meet would be in order to create some chaos of our own. :twisted:

a meet would be a most fabulous idea!!
{: if its a weekend i could go no matter what. for a weekday i just need a weeks notice so i can ask for the day off, but at the last minute i would possible consider a sick day, hehehee
{: