http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/08/disney-workers-awarded-more-than-433k-in-back-pay/
Disney workers awarded more than $433K in back pay
Cast Members, Featured — August 26, 2010 at 10:17 pm
By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has agreed to pay almost half a million dollars in back pay to employees as a result of violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday.
An agency investigation revealed that inventory control clerks in the company’s food and beverage department were not paid for work activities that occurred before and after their shifts, labor officials say.
Officials say the investigation also revealed that the clerks worked through meal times and from home without compensation.
According to a Department of Labor release, 69 employees with receive $433,819 in back wages owed by the company.
“While Walt Disney has specific rules regarding off-clock work, an investigation conducted by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that managers within the company were not adhering to those important policies,” Nancy Leppink of the agency’s Wage and Hour Division said in a statement.
“It is not enough to have policies,” Leppink said. “Management must also ensure that all supervisors are implementing them.”
The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes, among other things, minimum wage and overtime pay guidelines for employers. Time worked over 40 hours per week by qualified employees is considered overtime.
According to the release, the amount of hours worked includes “all time an employee must be on duty, or on the employer’s premises or at any other prescribed place of work.”
A request for comment from a company spokesman was not immediately returned.
Jeff Weiner can be reached at 407-420-5171 or jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Main Table Resumes
Main Table negotiations resume next week starting on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. Bargaining is scheduled for every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from now throughout the expiration of the contract, October 2, 2010. The sessions are scheduled to take place at the Buena Vista Palace Resort across from Downtown Disney's Marketplace at 10am each day and run through 6pm.
Please check the bargaining hot line, 407 851 0626 extension 29, or with your Shop Steward for more information.
Please check the bargaining hot line, 407 851 0626 extension 29, or with your Shop Steward for more information.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Theme Park performance improves
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-earnings-20100810,0,6277787.story
Outlook improves for Disney theme parks
By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel
7:08 p.m. EDT, August 10, 2010os-disney-earnings-20100810
The Walt Disney Co.'s theme-park business may finally be near the bottom of what is now a nearly two-year downturn.
Disney said Tuesday that fiscal-fourth-quarter hotel reservations at its resorts in Orlando and in Anaheim, Calif., are running just 1 percent behind the same period a year ago — the most promising bookings pace the company has reported in more than a year.
That prompted a relatively upbeat — though still tempered — assessment from Disney Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger.
"The fact that we're only 1 percent down in the parks at this time is very encouraging," Iger said during a conference call to discuss Disney's fiscal-third-quarter earnings. Iger added, though, that "visibility is still relatively limited, and you're dealing with an economy that is certainly fragile."
Iger's remarks followed an earnings report that easily topped Wall Street expectations, as Disney was powered by a resurgent movie studio and its ESPN cable-sports network.
Disney said it earned $1.3 billion during the three months that ended July 3, up 40 percent from profit of $954 million a year ago. Revenue grew across all of Disney's major divisions, rising overall by 16 percent to $10 billion.
Disney's theme parks were the weakest performer among the company's five main segments. Operating profit at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts fell 8 percent to $477 million, though sales climbed 3 percent to $2.8 billion.
The park results reflected Disney's efforts to continue reducing the size of the discounts it has been using to stimulate travel during the global economic downturn.
Combined attendance at Disney's U.S. resorts fell 3 percent from a year ago, with a 2 percent decline at Walt Disney World and a 4 percent drop at Disneyland. But per-capita guest spending rose 5 percent, as smaller promotions produced higher average ticket prices.
Attendance comparisons were hurt by a shift in the timing of Easter, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Excluding the effect of that shift, Disney said, combined U.S. attendance was down 1 percent for the quarter.
The effect of reduced discounts was particularly pronounced at Disney's hotels: Average occupancy at Disney World, where the company has roughly 25,000 hotel rooms, fell eight percentage points to 83 percent. But per-room spending, which includes the average room rate, rose 4 percent.
Disney Co. Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo said executives were pleased with their progress in phasing out discounts. "The volume and price tradeoff, we've been pretty happy with domestically," he said.
Executives said their theme parks were also hurt by higher operating costs for new offerings, including a summer parade and fireworks show at Disney World and the lavish "World of Color" water-and-lights show at Disney California Adventure — which Iger said has been luring "record crowds" to Disneyland's long-struggling second gate.
Profits at Disney Cruise Line suffered. Disney said the business was hurt by soft bookings for European cruises as well as by higher fuel expenses and start-up costs ahead of the January launch of its new, 4,000-passenger Disney Dream cruise ship.
But Disney said its forward-looking trends are more promising. Domestic hotel bookings for Disney's fiscal fourth quarter are currently running 9 percent behind last year's pace, but only because a quirk in Disney's accounting calendar gave last year's fourth quarter an additional week. When the effect of that extra week is stripped out, Disney said, bookings are down only 1 percent.
In each of the past two quarters, bookings had been running 10 percent behind the year-ago pace. "That suggests an improvement," Iger said.
Disney's best performances during the third quarter came from television and movie screens.
The company's movie studio rebounded from a year-ago loss to a $123 million operating profit, thanks to a string of hits that included Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story 3 and Iron Man 2, which was produced by Disney's recently acquired Marvel Entertainment studio. Disney's media networks reported operating profit of $1.9 billion, up 43 percent from last year, thanks in large part to continuing gains at its ESPN sports cable-TV channel.
Operating profit in Disney's consumer-products segment rose 22 percent to $117 million, helped by sales of Toy Story 3 and Marvel merchandise. And Disney's interactive-media unit narrowed its operating losses to $65 million, thanks to sales of the video games Toy Story 3 and Split Second.
Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5414.
Outlook improves for Disney theme parks
By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel
7:08 p.m. EDT, August 10, 2010os-disney-earnings-20100810
The Walt Disney Co.'s theme-park business may finally be near the bottom of what is now a nearly two-year downturn.
Disney said Tuesday that fiscal-fourth-quarter hotel reservations at its resorts in Orlando and in Anaheim, Calif., are running just 1 percent behind the same period a year ago — the most promising bookings pace the company has reported in more than a year.
That prompted a relatively upbeat — though still tempered — assessment from Disney Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger.
"The fact that we're only 1 percent down in the parks at this time is very encouraging," Iger said during a conference call to discuss Disney's fiscal-third-quarter earnings. Iger added, though, that "visibility is still relatively limited, and you're dealing with an economy that is certainly fragile."
Iger's remarks followed an earnings report that easily topped Wall Street expectations, as Disney was powered by a resurgent movie studio and its ESPN cable-sports network.
Disney said it earned $1.3 billion during the three months that ended July 3, up 40 percent from profit of $954 million a year ago. Revenue grew across all of Disney's major divisions, rising overall by 16 percent to $10 billion.
Disney's theme parks were the weakest performer among the company's five main segments. Operating profit at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts fell 8 percent to $477 million, though sales climbed 3 percent to $2.8 billion.
The park results reflected Disney's efforts to continue reducing the size of the discounts it has been using to stimulate travel during the global economic downturn.
Combined attendance at Disney's U.S. resorts fell 3 percent from a year ago, with a 2 percent decline at Walt Disney World and a 4 percent drop at Disneyland. But per-capita guest spending rose 5 percent, as smaller promotions produced higher average ticket prices.
Attendance comparisons were hurt by a shift in the timing of Easter, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Excluding the effect of that shift, Disney said, combined U.S. attendance was down 1 percent for the quarter.
The effect of reduced discounts was particularly pronounced at Disney's hotels: Average occupancy at Disney World, where the company has roughly 25,000 hotel rooms, fell eight percentage points to 83 percent. But per-room spending, which includes the average room rate, rose 4 percent.
Disney Co. Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo said executives were pleased with their progress in phasing out discounts. "The volume and price tradeoff, we've been pretty happy with domestically," he said.
Executives said their theme parks were also hurt by higher operating costs for new offerings, including a summer parade and fireworks show at Disney World and the lavish "World of Color" water-and-lights show at Disney California Adventure — which Iger said has been luring "record crowds" to Disneyland's long-struggling second gate.
Profits at Disney Cruise Line suffered. Disney said the business was hurt by soft bookings for European cruises as well as by higher fuel expenses and start-up costs ahead of the January launch of its new, 4,000-passenger Disney Dream cruise ship.
But Disney said its forward-looking trends are more promising. Domestic hotel bookings for Disney's fiscal fourth quarter are currently running 9 percent behind last year's pace, but only because a quirk in Disney's accounting calendar gave last year's fourth quarter an additional week. When the effect of that extra week is stripped out, Disney said, bookings are down only 1 percent.
In each of the past two quarters, bookings had been running 10 percent behind the year-ago pace. "That suggests an improvement," Iger said.
Disney's best performances during the third quarter came from television and movie screens.
The company's movie studio rebounded from a year-ago loss to a $123 million operating profit, thanks to a string of hits that included Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story 3 and Iron Man 2, which was produced by Disney's recently acquired Marvel Entertainment studio. Disney's media networks reported operating profit of $1.9 billion, up 43 percent from last year, thanks in large part to continuing gains at its ESPN sports cable-TV channel.
Operating profit in Disney's consumer-products segment rose 22 percent to $117 million, helped by sales of Toy Story 3 and Marvel merchandise. And Disney's interactive-media unit narrowed its operating losses to $65 million, thanks to sales of the video games Toy Story 3 and Split Second.
Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5414.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Disney increases ticket prices
Here is a link to the Orlando Sentinel Article:
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/08/disney-raising-ticket-prices-once-again/
Incredible timing...
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/08/disney-raising-ticket-prices-once-again/
Incredible timing...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
More bang for your buck!
The 2010 opening set of “Side Letter” negotiations for Local 362 concluded with Attractions workers July 28-30. This round of negotiations was the most difficult so far. Disney has failed to address any of the core issues facing Attractions Cast Members. The Bargaining Committee left determined to organize their co-workers to stand-up for a fair contract.
The improvements achieved were:
- New Labor-Management Committee
- Pilot program to allow submitting Preference Sheets in between schedule bids
- Seniority applying for workers who transfer
- Representation rights
The Attraction Bargaining Committee is determined to push hard for their current demands to address scheduling and add a premium for workers who work in “Red-Triangle” Attractions. The Company has proposals on the table to include “Release of Shifts” in the attendance matrix, random drug testing and the elimination of the pension plan for new hires.
An all day Local 362 bargaining session is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at the DC-2 building located at 1800 Live Oak Lane starting at 9am. Issues remain open for Custodial, Vacation Planning, Ticketing and Attractions.
ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
The improvements achieved were:
- New Labor-Management Committee
- Pilot program to allow submitting Preference Sheets in between schedule bids
- Seniority applying for workers who transfer
- Representation rights
The Attraction Bargaining Committee is determined to push hard for their current demands to address scheduling and add a premium for workers who work in “Red-Triangle” Attractions. The Company has proposals on the table to include “Release of Shifts” in the attendance matrix, random drug testing and the elimination of the pension plan for new hires.
An all day Local 362 bargaining session is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at the DC-2 building located at 1800 Live Oak Lane starting at 9am. Issues remain open for Custodial, Vacation Planning, Ticketing and Attractions.
ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
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