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Union Solidarity Key at Disney Companies
In the aftermath of the two-and-one-half-month lockout by Disney-owned ABC, CWA President Morton called on the AFL-CIO to organize a meeting of unions that represent workers at Disney companies and subsidiaries — from Disney hotels and ABC television to Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and the whole family of Disney characters.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has asked Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka to head up the effort, and the unions will meet to determine their common ground in dealing with Disney operations. "It became very clear to us that ABC’s labor policies are now totally dominated by the parent company," Bahr said in calling for a multi-union approach "in dealing with the Disney empire and the contemptuous attitude that Disney management takes toward its workers and the collective bargaining process."
The Longshoremen are protesting Disney Cruise Line’s hiring of non-union staff for its "Disney Magic" operations. "We’re trying our best to see if we can make the public aware that Mickey Mouse is not all peaches and cream," said Arthur Coffey, president of the ILA’s South Florida local.
Meanwhile, NABET-CWA has asked federal mediators to resume working with both parties after five units — engineers, newswriters/producers (San Francisco), couriers, talent/telephone coordinators and desk assistants (N.Y.) — voted down the proposed contract. Members of seven other units approved the settlement.
NABET-CWA members will be heading to Seattle for the Disney annual shareholders meeting, Feb. 23, and along with the Campaign for Labor Rights, UNITE! and other supporters, will speak out against Disney’s mistreatment of working families, whether in the United States or abroad.
Separately, a tentative three-year agreement was reached with NBC, covering some 2,500 NABET-CWA members at the network. The settlement includes wage increases of up to 12 percent over the contract term, along with improvements in holidays and seniority pay. The ratification ballots will be counted March 5.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has asked Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka to head up the effort, and the unions will meet to determine their common ground in dealing with Disney operations. "It became very clear to us that ABC’s labor policies are now totally dominated by the parent company," Bahr said in calling for a multi-union approach "in dealing with the Disney empire and the contemptuous attitude that Disney management takes toward its workers and the collective bargaining process."
The Longshoremen are protesting Disney Cruise Line’s hiring of non-union staff for its "Disney Magic" operations. "We’re trying our best to see if we can make the public aware that Mickey Mouse is not all peaches and cream," said Arthur Coffey, president of the ILA’s South Florida local.
Meanwhile, NABET-CWA has asked federal mediators to resume working with both parties after five units — engineers, newswriters/producers (San Francisco), couriers, talent/telephone coordinators and desk assistants (N.Y.) — voted down the proposed contract. Members of seven other units approved the settlement.
NABET-CWA members will be heading to Seattle for the Disney annual shareholders meeting, Feb. 23, and along with the Campaign for Labor Rights, UNITE! and other supporters, will speak out against Disney’s mistreatment of working families, whether in the United States or abroad.
Separately, a tentative three-year agreement was reached with NBC, covering some 2,500 NABET-CWA members at the network. The settlement includes wage increases of up to 12 percent over the contract term, along with improvements in holidays and seniority pay. The ratification ballots will be counted March 5.