[Dana]

I understand the CMs frustration and wanting the benefits etc and protesting is their right. What I don't understand is WHY they would do it in costume....how dare them do that where children could see them. It's selfish.

[rlcarmichael]

My health insurance went up 50% last year!!! I got the double whammy of age bracket increase plus the "normal" annual increase of 10-20%. We had to drop our company paid group plan. Health insurance coverage has become my 2nd highest expense! We now have $1500 deductable plan and pray nobody actually gets sick.

We are all feeling the pinch. Companies have the choice of tightening the belts, laying people off, or increasing prices - usually all of the above. It's an ugly fact of life.

Disney is actually pretty liberal with benefits from what I've been told by CMs. If WallyMart or some other place was better they'd be there.

And I agree with DANA totally. That is just tacky. They have the right to protest, go work somewhere else, whatever. Disney spends too much time on creating the image and when families spend $$$$$ they expect what they pay for. But creating ugly scenes only hurts themselves in the long run.

I'm guessing that they have violated company policy big time. I wonder how many of them will have a job when they get back?!?! Can you say "YOU'RE FIRED" and "NO UNEMPLOYMENT" boys and girls?

[laurabelle]

Any way you look at this, it's awful.

[llama]

Everyone deserves proper health care. Disney's treatment of their employees is well-known to be less than magical.

I think most children are savvy enough to realize that these aren't the "real" characters. Sometimes there are things that are more important than the "magic".

[brebre_51]

llama, I think that could be said of most (not all) companies here in the USA. It's all about making a big profit & paying out less. I have heard that many other 1st world nations look after their employees & have seen healthy profits for doing so. Sadly, this is an idea that has yet to catch on here.

[tinkerbelle24]

I seen this on MSN yesterday while at work and I was shocked!! Why in the world would they wear costumes for all the children to see?!?!?!

[disney1]

Dressed as Disney characters? Not cool.

Right to protest? Sure

"Entitled" to healthcare? You can buy it privately.

If Disney (or WalMart ....fill in the blank) "give" it to their employees, where do you think the money is going to come from? Higher ticket prices at Disney, higher merch prices at WalMart etc.....

Healthcare is paid for in some form or other by us in the long run. If anyone has first hand knowledge of what this stuff costs..... Just an example the tri-state restaurant chain my wife works for recently eliminated their paper place mats (paper place mats) it saved the company just over a million dollars. Now imagine what healthcare costs for a company the size of Disney or whomever.

Employers are only required to pay their employees. Everything else is an enticement to recruit and retain.

[ddoll]

Hey, you know what? We never heard anything about this problem with the workers and their issues until they did this. For their purposes, it was a successful protest.

[disney1]

Originally Posted by ddoll

Hey, you know what? We never heard anything about this problem with the workers and their issues until they did this. For their purposes, it was a successful protest.

I just wish they hadn't dragged the characters into it.

But then that is what probably drew the attention.

[babets]

This is a sad situation. I hope they get it resolved.

[chastmastr]

I somewhat agree with both sides here -- I think it is an outrage that Disney does not pay its workers better -- and even more of one that they want to take away healthcare at a time like this. I also think it's sad to dress as the characters where kids can see -- but I also think it's a desperate act which may still be justified. Thinking of the children -- of the Disney employees -- and the health benefits for those kids being taken away suddenly brings it into more sharp relief for me. And I didn't know a thing about it before seeing this thread either.

[disney1]

If they're taking away health care, then no I don't agree. If they're raising the price. Oh well. And I don't mean "oh well" then we'll ask for a pay raise. That puts everyone back at square one.

We all want inexpensive, immediate and attentive service from business but as the employees of these businesses we expect our employer to pay us top dollar. That top dollar comes with a price. Fewer employees which translates into, slower and less attentive employees.

[BlackAngelFmly]

Originally Posted by dac921

She said it's already hard to care for her three grandchildren and aging mother while earning $14.32 an hour.

Co-worker Diane Dominguez, 50, said she was worried about losing health care because of the heavy labor involved in lifting mattresses, moving furniture and making dozens of beds a day. She also said rising prices and the cost of gas were eating into her salary of $11.11 an hour.

omg i wish i had they're problems, they make beds all day long, or make bread all day long. I went to a Technical College for Automotive Technology and after 2 years of working somewhere I finally got 8.50 and hour with health care WAY out of my price range to buy with no benefits but a voluntary crappy 401K and payed vacations after one year. but it is California but even still translated to here they still make more than i do.


but they are in kind of a bad spot for everyone. On the one hand you have this bunch causing problems, on the other hand you would have to get new recruits to do the same job. ehhh kind of a lose lose

[dznygrl]

The costume idea was just plain disrespectful!!

But I gotta say, I feel for these people! Despite what anyone may have ever heard to the contrary, Disney does not treat their employees fairly when it comes to wages and benefits. They try to cover this up with "free park admission" and "free movie premieres", etc. The fact of the matter is, working for Disney (unless you're in an executive position) is an utter sacrifice.

I really hate saying that. But it's so true.

Boy do I hope things will change one day...