Disney starts to disperse bonuses

[hertamaniac]

$250 out of $1000.

http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/disney-workers-who-are-denied-a-bonus-speak-out

 

[WDW_Ding]

80,000 Disney employees nationwide will receive the $250 on Thursday with no strings attached. However, 41,000 unionized workers in Orlando and Anaheim who are negotiating new contracts are being denied the bonus unless they accept Disney's proposed contracts.

This seems scummy to me...

 

[hakepb]

So does the $250 out of $1000

After taxes that’s not much more than $150

At first I was thinking that ~$650 after taxes would at least be something nice/fun like a TV, Phone or significant like an appliance or new set of tires...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This seems scummy to me...

welcome to the world of union negotiations!

I can see it from that standpoint - want to use what leverage you can get, but really not sure if that is the level to go after when you got positive PR for announcing the $1,000 bonus and now undoing it with these tactics. I bet they roll it into the negotiations and the union members will get it when they agree to whatever the final terms are

 

[DisFanDad]

welcome to the world of union negotiations!

I can see it from that standpoint - want to use what leverage you can get, but really not sure if that is the level to go after when you got positive PR for announcing the $1,000 bonus and now undoing it with these tactics. I bet they roll it into the negotiations and the union members will get it when they agree to whatever the final terms are

Its just unnecessary, in fact it only demonstrates why its pretty important for Disney employees to be unionized if they are dealing with and employer like this.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Its just unnecessary, in fact it only demonstrates why its pretty important for Disney employees to be unionized if they are dealing with and employer like this.

absolutely - I can totally see this backfiring on them

 

[jknezek]

absolutely - I can totally see this backfiring on them

I very much doubt it. This country is mostly anti-Union unless you are part of one. And the upper middle class and above that is the primary target of the Disney Parks aren't going to cancel trips to side with the employees. There's going to be a small amount of bad press that only employees and people on these boards really care about and then this is just going to disappear. Pretty much no one is not going to see Black Panther or Infinity War because Disney is holding back these bonuses or not changing the pay scale by 30%.

This is a bad look. But, it's a small amount of bad press that isn't even getting the same amount of attention the original announcement provided in good press attention. Short of the President sounding off on Disney on Twitter, which is oddly possible, this is a non-event to anyone but the employees and the most fanatical Disney watchers.

 

[Davey Jones II]

The parks division is more profitable than ever. It's time for them to invest in their workforce, not just in park infrastructure. As fans, we love anticipating new lands and rides, but the CMs are an important part of our trips, too. I don't think Disney can maintain a high reputation for customer service without sharing some of the profits with their cast members.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I very much doubt it. This country is mostly anti-Union unless you are part of one. And the upper middle class and above that is the primary target of the Disney Parks aren't going to cancel trips to side with the employees. There's going to be a small amount of bad press that only employees and people on these boards really care about and then this is just going to disappear. Pretty much no one is not going to see Black Panther or Infinity War because Disney is holding back these bonuses or not changing the pay scale by 30%.

This is a bad look. But, it's a small amount of bad press that isn't even getting the same amount of attention the original announcement provided in good press attention. Short of the President sounding off on Disney on Twitter, which is oddly possible, this is a non-event to anyone but the employees and the most fanatical Disney watchers.

I meant more with the union and the members of the union .... and positive favor they curried with the members from initially announcing the bonus is now likely gone and might embolden them to stick to their demands. Maybe not - maybe it is a non-issue in the end ... but if I was in the union this isn't making me happier with Disney management.

I agree it's a non-issue to guests

 

[11290]

From what I am understanding from CM friends that are union members (haven't read the current labor agreements still in force), the situation has something to do with "current" contract language. Doesn't help that negotiations are ongoing for new contracts, just complicates things further.

 

[jknezek]

I meant more with the union and the members of the union .... and positive favor they curried with the members from initially announcing the bonus is now likely gone and might embolden them to stick to their demands. Maybe not - maybe it is a non-issue in the end ... but if I was in the union this isn't making me happier with Disney management.

I agree it's a non-issue to guests

Union members are never going to be happy with Disney. Disney has a huge need for low grade labor. They will always get that as cheaply as possible. And with huge numbers of Puerto Ricans escaping to the area, Disney is probably feeling safer in their access to legal labor than they have in some time.

I get that people think Disney should pay more for CMs. I generally agree that anything approaching minimum wage or even the $15 the Union wants is essentially poverty rate. Heck, my wife is a pre-school teacher. Those are the people that spend more time with your kids, awake, per day, than a working parent. But they make a poverty wage. So it's not just Disney. But, that is what the market will bear. Until people won't take those jobs, until people are less willing to work at Disney because they've always wanted to work at MK or in the Parks or won't be pre-school teachers because it's a brutal responsibility for peanuts in pay, it's not going to change. That is the same with any job anywhere else in this country.

I have a nice white collar job. Two undergraduate and a graduate degree. I like to think I'm fairly good at what I do and I'd be hard to replace. I think I should be paid more. I'm sure my company would pay me less if they could. It's really no different than a table cleaner in Casey's in the end. Disney will pay the least, the employee will want the most. But so long as the next person in line can do the job, and is willing to work for less, it doesn't matter if it is me or the table cleaner, the employer is taking the cheaper option. It's just a lot easier to find a table cleaner...

 

[Owl X]

I believe the Disney offer is a 3% raise annually for the next 2 years for union employees.
The deal included back pay for the 3% increase starting in September 2017.
So every employee is guaranteed a 6% raise (or a minimum of $1/hr increase).

Many Americans (including me) have not even seen a 1% raise annually over the last several years.

Most American companies are not giving out a $1000 bonus to all employees either.

 

[jarestel]

The thing is, if a company isn't making money, nobody should get raises. On the other hand, when a company does well all should share in the benefits.

 

[jkh36619]

Union members are never going to be happy with Disney. Disney has a huge need for low grade labor. They will always get that as cheaply as possible. And with huge numbers of Puerto Ricans escaping to the area, Disney is probably feeling safer in their access to legal labor than they have in some time.

I get that people think Disney should pay more for CMs. I generally agree that anything approaching minimum wage or even the $15 the Union wants is essentially poverty rate. Heck, my wife is a pre-school teacher. Those are the people that spend more time with your kids, awake, per day, than a working parent. But they make a poverty wage. So it's not just Disney. But, that is what the market will bear. Until people won't take those jobs, until people are less willing to work at Disney because they've always wanted to work at MK or in the Parks or won't be pre-school teachers because it's a brutal responsibility for peanuts in pay, it's not going to change. That is the same with any job anywhere else in this country.

I have a nice white collar job. Two undergraduate and a graduate degree. I like to think I'm fairly good at what I do and I'd be hard to replace. I think I should be paid more. I'm sure my company would pay me less if they could. It's really no different than a table cleaner in Casey's in the end. Disney will pay the least, the employee will want the most. But so long as the next person in line can do the job, and is willing to work for less, it doesn't matter if it is me or the table cleaner, the employer is taking the cheaper option. It's just a lot easier to find a table cleaner...

Couldn't have said it better myself. The unfortunate truth is the lions share of CM's are low skill positions.

 

[Planogirl]

As life gets more expensive, it seems a shame to pay workers that you rely on such paltry wages. Yes, people dream about working for Disney but will that pool of good workers shrink with events like these? It's not just about current employees but also those in the future.

 

[KYMickey]

The thing is, if a company isn't making money, nobody should get raises. On the other hand, when a company does well all should share in the benefits.

That's a good thought but if Disney or any other company has a bad year on employees going to give back some of their salary? Companies have to control expenses all the time so that they can still be profitable or at least break even when times are bad.

 

[jknezek]

As life gets more expensive, it seems a shame to pay workers that you rely on such paltry wages. Yes, people dream about working for Disney but will that pool of good workers shrink with events like these? It's not just about current employees but also those in the future.

It hasn't so far. If it does, Disney will pay the minimum extra required to attract what they need. That is just a fact of the industry. Labor is a massive expense for the Parks. It will always be as tightly controlled as possible.

 

[jarestel]

That's a good thought but if Disney or any other company has a bad year on employees going to give back some of their salary? Companies have to control expenses all the time so that they can still be profitable or at least break even when times are bad.

That's a good thought too, but if a company has a bad year are the executives going to give back some of their salary? The front line jobs (theme parks, restaurants, hotels) are critically important to the success of the Disney company. A little recognition in the form of wages is only appropriate.

 

[jknezek]

That's a good thought too, but if a company has a bad year are the executives going to give back some of their salary?

Executive pay is tied to company performance in most public companies. Don't get me wrong, executive pay packages are ridiculously out of control, but they are variable on company performance in a way the laborers' pay simply isn't. I don't think most line workers at Disney would like it if their pay structure was $12 an hour the next year when the company met certain goals but generally $10 if goals aren't met and $9 if the company loses money. 1) You can't live that way and 2) for the most part front line workers have almost no control over whether the company makes money or not.

Executive pay packages actually can vary by 30% or more. A general worker, even middle management, just can't have that uncertainty. So you give up reward for taking less risk. Execs, who actually set the policies that cause the company to profit or lose, take the risk and reap (way too much in my opinion) the reward or pay (way too little in my opinion) the penalty.

 

[jarestel]

Thanks for the info on executive pay, but I fear you missed my point. I don't recall the last year that Disney lost money so balancing future profitability on the backs of the lowest wage earners just seems like a douche move to me. YMMV.