The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 27, 2004, Page 9, Image 9
Disney workers
lobbying for
better contracts
By MIKE BRANOM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney
World’s largest union, upset over stalled
contract negotiations, took its arguments
direcdy to tourists Tuesday, handing out
leaflets at Orlando International Airport.
The Service Trades Council Union,
representing 22,000 of the theme park’s
53,000 employees, recently has taken to
publicly showing its unhappiness over
talks that began in March. Earlier this
month, union leaders distributed fliers
at the opening of a World of Disney
store in New York and at a Disney on
Ice show in Philadelphia.
“Our concern is to get a fair contract,
and we will take our story wherever we
have to, to whomever we have to,
however we have to, to encourage
Disney to be reasonable at the
bargaining table,” Morty Miller,
president of the union UNITE HERE!
Local 362, one of six unions comprising
the Service Trades Council Union, said.
Union officials oppose the
elimination of some overtime
provisions, a significant increase in the
cost of health care insurance and a
proposal to not offer new hires a 40IK
plan instead of a pension plan.
The union’s workers, employed as
everything from hotel maids to ticket
takers to costumed characters,
resoundingly rejected, 3,659 votes to 96,
Disney’s last offer of a three-year
contract earlier this month.
Talks are to resume Wednesday,
according to Disney spokeswoman
Jacquee Polak. The old contract has
been extended to Nov. 4.
“Right now, we’re focusing on
common ground,” Polak said. “We’re
proposed a fair and competitive package.
Unfortunately, these are difficult
discussions, particularly when you’re
dealing with the national crisis of rising
health care costs.”
—p*^__j
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Disney employee Patti Smith, right, talks with airline passenger Charles Bonetto, of Chicago, about the labor issues that Disney employees
are having with the company, while passing out information sheets, at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Fla..
■ FLAG
Continued from page 1
show school spirit someone decide to
fly the Confederate flag,” Washington
said in his opening statement. “To
me, the Confederate flag represents
hate, represents slavery and represents
a history of depression and wrong
doing.”
During the first 30 minutes of the
debate, the moderator asked questions
and candidates had four minutes to
respond.
“I don’t think the Confederate flag
represents racism,” Calder said. “I
think if you look at all flags from
around the world you can connote
that all flags symbolize that in one way
or another.”
After the moderator’s questions,
the debate shifted into the two
candidates asking each other
questions. Calder asked Washington
how for he would go into putting the
Confederate flag off the state grounds
and into a museum.
“In putting the Confederate flag in
the museum, I am not saying that you
put it in some square box and hide
behind the dinosaurs,” Washington
replied. “... I just want to get it off the
State House grounds.”
The debate then moved into an
audience question and answer session
where the two speakers were asked
questions from both sides on the
issue, including how to resolve it.
“That flag means a lot to me, but I
don’t think this state can move
forward until we truly understand
where each side is coming from,”
Calder said. “We need to have mutual
dialogue.”
The debate ended as both
candidates shook hands and a wave of
applause filled the room of 200
people.
“Terrence is a class act guy and to
me, sometimes debates can be
personal attacks, but this was
“The best thing
about doing this
debate was the
people coming up to
you after the debate
saying that they
really didn’t agree
with you, but now
they really see what
you are saying.”
JARRETT CALDER
SECOND-YEAR POLITICAL SCIENCE
AND PHILOSOPHY STUDENT
different,” Calder said. “The best
thing about doing this debate was the
people coming up to you after the
debate saying that they really didn’t
igree with you, but now they really
iee what you are saying.”
Comments on this story? E-mail
ramecocbieivs@gwm.se. edu
BATTLEGROUND, IOWA
mmmm i i i i a aa i
HANNAH VAN ZUTPHEN-KANN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ashton Kutcher speaks to University of Iowa students at a Hubbard Park. Kutcher told the crowd that
Bush punk’d him into voting for him four years ago, and it will not happen again.
Mon. & Wed.
5:30 - 6:45p.m.
For USC Students,
Faculty, & Staff
Free Medications Included
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Health & Wellness
WClII 4I.JU“WMI\C
to reserve your space
Specify “On-Campus USC Class”
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Please call 777-8248
for more information
For November classes call by 10/29/04
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