Disney workers fired over sweaty costumes win their jobs back

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

There was a short article about this in my local paper yesterday.

 

Here's a link to the Orlando Sentinel article covering the topic: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-disney-lion-king-sweaty-costumes-20150428-story.html

 

Three Disney's Animal Kingdom performers who were fired in June after refusing to wear costumes they said were contaminated and sweaty have won their old jobs back and will receive back pay.

 

A federal arbitrator ruled in the employees' favor this week, saying Disney violated a collective bargaining agreement by firing them.

 

One of the Festival of the Lion King shows had to be canceled last year because of the employees' refusal to wear their outfits. Their unitards had been tainted, the employees argued, by other workers' sweaty garments that accidentally touched theirs. The dirty costume pieces had been on a rack that they said had somehow been pushed up against where their clean clothes hung.

 

Walt Disney World fired the performers shortly after the canceled show. The local Teamsters union representing them argued Disney violated its contract by providing unsanitary clothing.

 

"I'm really, really happy that everything ended up working out in the end," said Drew Pearson, one of the performers who will return to the Lion King show. "This is just awesome news."

Since losing his Disney job, Pearson has been working as a Starbucks shift supervisor. Pearson said he hopes to work in both jobs.

 

A Disney spokesman said simply that the company will comply with the ruling.

 

Money the workers earned in other jobs after they were fired will be subtracted from their Disney back pay, said Donna-Lynne Dalton, recording secretary and business agent for the Teamsters Local 385.

 

Dalton said Disney initially offered to rehire the employees but not for performing jobs and without back pay.

 

The workers also would have had reprimands in their files. They will not under the federal arbitrator's decision.

 

I guess those Tumble Monkeys are lucky they have a union.  Regular CM's don't have that kind of protection.

 

TCD

 

 

 

 

[devores 382]

Regular CMs are unionized. The only non unionized jobs at Disney are administrative and photo pass. All other lines of business are under a union.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Regular CMs are unionized. The only non unionized jobs at Disney are administrative and photo pass. All other lines of business are under a union.

 

What about the 5000 college kids who are enslaved to Disney under the Disney College Program?

 

They aren't protected by a union, are they?

 

TCD

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Regular CMs are unionized. The only non unionized jobs at Disney are administrative and photo pass. All other lines of business are under a union.

Is union membership mandatory?

[BuckeyeFortFan 35]

The costumes were just pushed up against some dirty ones? I thought from the title they had to wear others dirty costumes....that would be nasty.

Well....I always thought those Lion King dancers were a bunch of sissies.....this confirms my suspicions.

[devores 382]

Disney college program is an internship. They are not full fledged cast members. In fact, if they go on to become full fledged cast members their time as a cp doesn't count as time employed for seniority or service awards. So no, they are not protected under Union.

Union dues are not mandatory, but they are still protected under the union. They would just need to cover costs if they ever need the union.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

Union dues are not mandatory, but they are still protected under the union. They would just need to cover costs if they ever need the union.

Thank goodness.

That mean I can still be. Boat captain when I retire and move to orlando.

[keith_h 420]

Is union membership mandatory?

 

You cannot be forced to join a union anywhere in the US. In a union shop all similar employees regardless of membership status are covered under the collective bargaining agreement. There is a difference of whether you have to pay money in support this or not. In right to work states you get the collective bargaining agreement for no cost to you. In non-right to works states you can be charged a fee for support of the collective bargaining agreement. This is less than dues and it is strictly defined as to what can be charged and has to be strictly accounted for. In both cases nonmembers do not get any other support from the union such as grievance processes, legal support, etc.