Re: Strike!
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:10 pm
This is from the UFCW web site.
March 15, 2006 · 4:35 pm
Negotiations are still underway as of this posting and may continue long into the night.
Although your contract is due to expire at midnight, Castmembers are advised that we are working under an extension until further notice. Report for your shifts on time.
You will be notified as to the time and place that you will vote on your employer's final offer.
Further information will be posted here when it becomes available.
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March 14, 2006
Disneyland negotiations continue with little progress to report at this time. Negotiations are scheduled for all day tomorrow, March 15. In addition, the Unions have informed the company negotiators that if progress is being made, we are prepared to continue negotiating beyond the contract expiration date, if necessary, in an effort to arrive at a fair and equitable contract settlement.
At this time, the big issues remain unresolved. These include adequate wage increases for current cast members and the company's proposal for a new hire cast member earning $8.00 / hour with no wage progression, no vacation and only 4 paid holidays. While company negotiators are convinced that current cast members will not stand up for future cast members, we are certain that any contract offer which undermines the economic opportunities for either current or future cast members will not be accepted by a majority of the membership.
Your bargaining committee has been united and strong and the message we have sent to the company is clear - come back with a fair contract offer or a dispute is likely. It is critical that all cast members send this same message by remaining strong and united and prepared. Over the next day or two, we will continue to negotiate and we hope that with your support, we will prevail.
Please check back for an update later this week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 9, 2006
While discussions with negotiators for Disneyland have been lively and extensive, your company continues to refuse to present written proposals that address your core concerns. As of this morning, Disneyland had not yet proposed any wage increase for current cast members. Your union has proposed a 3 year agreement with a 9% increase the first year, 7% the second year and 7% the third year. In addition we have proposed an equity adjustment for merchandise cast members and increased premiums for specialty positions.
On Friday morning, March 10, a press conference will be held at Disney's annual share holder meeting at the Anaheim Pond. Cast members and local politicians will appeal to Disney's share holders to recognize the hard work and dedication of the employees represented by the Master Services Council.
Disney's proposal to redefine full time as 30 hours and to create a new lower paid, non benefited class of employees is unacceptable. Both of these proposals undermine the future job security of the hard working cast members who have produced record profits for Disneyland and made the 50th anniversary celebration so successful.
Negotiations are scheduled to continue daily through March 15. Please check back here for further updates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 2, 2006
After 5 days of negotiations with Disneyland, there is little progress to report. The big issues which were part of Disney's proposal in October 2005 and which resulted in the Unions walking away from the bargaining table remain on Disney's "must have" list. These include: a new definition for full time employees of 30 hours per week, a new eligibility requirement restricting medical benefits to full time employees only, a new lower paid casual regular employee with limited opportunity for advancement, no vacation time and only 3 holidays for newly hired casual regulars and a college program which would completely disregard the principles of seniority.
Your Unions are staying strong and united at the bargaining table. The UFCW negotiating committee consists of Laurinda Fiddler, Coleen Palmer, Kit Wilson, Rocky Pebley, Jamie Sessions and Andrea Zinder. The UFCW, SEIU, Teamsters and Candy Makers are united in our negotiating strategy and are speaking through one voice. Union proposals include wage increases each year (totaling 23% over a 3 year contract plus a one time wage adjustment for all merchandise cast members) a medical plan with no employee premium, matching contributions to a 401(k) plan and an improvement in the defined benefit pension plan and increased premiums for leads and schedulers.
Your contract expires on March 15. We will be negotiating up through the contract expiration. We will continue to keep you informed of any progress through this web site. In the meantime, your strength and solidarity will make a difference in the outcome of these negotiations. Together we will prevail.
March 15, 2006 · 4:35 pm
Negotiations are still underway as of this posting and may continue long into the night.
Although your contract is due to expire at midnight, Castmembers are advised that we are working under an extension until further notice. Report for your shifts on time.
You will be notified as to the time and place that you will vote on your employer's final offer.
Further information will be posted here when it becomes available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 14, 2006
Disneyland negotiations continue with little progress to report at this time. Negotiations are scheduled for all day tomorrow, March 15. In addition, the Unions have informed the company negotiators that if progress is being made, we are prepared to continue negotiating beyond the contract expiration date, if necessary, in an effort to arrive at a fair and equitable contract settlement.
At this time, the big issues remain unresolved. These include adequate wage increases for current cast members and the company's proposal for a new hire cast member earning $8.00 / hour with no wage progression, no vacation and only 4 paid holidays. While company negotiators are convinced that current cast members will not stand up for future cast members, we are certain that any contract offer which undermines the economic opportunities for either current or future cast members will not be accepted by a majority of the membership.
Your bargaining committee has been united and strong and the message we have sent to the company is clear - come back with a fair contract offer or a dispute is likely. It is critical that all cast members send this same message by remaining strong and united and prepared. Over the next day or two, we will continue to negotiate and we hope that with your support, we will prevail.
Please check back for an update later this week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 9, 2006
While discussions with negotiators for Disneyland have been lively and extensive, your company continues to refuse to present written proposals that address your core concerns. As of this morning, Disneyland had not yet proposed any wage increase for current cast members. Your union has proposed a 3 year agreement with a 9% increase the first year, 7% the second year and 7% the third year. In addition we have proposed an equity adjustment for merchandise cast members and increased premiums for specialty positions.
On Friday morning, March 10, a press conference will be held at Disney's annual share holder meeting at the Anaheim Pond. Cast members and local politicians will appeal to Disney's share holders to recognize the hard work and dedication of the employees represented by the Master Services Council.
Disney's proposal to redefine full time as 30 hours and to create a new lower paid, non benefited class of employees is unacceptable. Both of these proposals undermine the future job security of the hard working cast members who have produced record profits for Disneyland and made the 50th anniversary celebration so successful.
Negotiations are scheduled to continue daily through March 15. Please check back here for further updates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 2, 2006
After 5 days of negotiations with Disneyland, there is little progress to report. The big issues which were part of Disney's proposal in October 2005 and which resulted in the Unions walking away from the bargaining table remain on Disney's "must have" list. These include: a new definition for full time employees of 30 hours per week, a new eligibility requirement restricting medical benefits to full time employees only, a new lower paid casual regular employee with limited opportunity for advancement, no vacation time and only 3 holidays for newly hired casual regulars and a college program which would completely disregard the principles of seniority.
Your Unions are staying strong and united at the bargaining table. The UFCW negotiating committee consists of Laurinda Fiddler, Coleen Palmer, Kit Wilson, Rocky Pebley, Jamie Sessions and Andrea Zinder. The UFCW, SEIU, Teamsters and Candy Makers are united in our negotiating strategy and are speaking through one voice. Union proposals include wage increases each year (totaling 23% over a 3 year contract plus a one time wage adjustment for all merchandise cast members) a medical plan with no employee premium, matching contributions to a 401(k) plan and an improvement in the defined benefit pension plan and increased premiums for leads and schedulers.
Your contract expires on March 15. We will be negotiating up through the contract expiration. We will continue to keep you informed of any progress through this web site. In the meantime, your strength and solidarity will make a difference in the outcome of these negotiations. Together we will prevail.