Disney World and union group reach contract deal

ORLANDO, Florida – After months of negotiations, Walt Disney World and leaders of its largest union group have agreed to a tentative contract that will likely avert a strike at the theme park resort.

Most leaders of the Service Trades Council, a six-union coalition that represents 40 per cent of the company’s 53 000-person work force, will recommend that its members approve the three-year contract Nov. 11.Earlier this week, union leaders advised members to reject the latest proposal and authorize union leaders to call a strike if further negotiations and mediation failed.But both sides found common ground during talks that lasted into Thursday evening.The contract covers hotel workers, costumed characters, bus drivers, ticket takers, ride operators and concession workers.Union members rejected two previous proposals.Disney backed down from what union leaders considered a deal-breaker: raising the number of hours that part-timers can work.Union leaders said the company was trying to reduce its need for full-time workers to save money on benefits.Chambers said under the latest proposal, top-scale workers who currently earn US$11,12 (N$67,83) an hour will get a 20-cent-an-hour increase and a lump sum bonus of between US$$1,500 and US$$1,700 during the contract’s first year.In the second year, they will get another lump sum, and in the third year they will get a 25-cent-an-hour increase.The starting minimum wage, currently US$$6,70 an hour, will increase 10 cents an hour for each year of the contract.-Nampa-AP11.Earlier this week, union leaders advised members to reject the latest proposal and authorize union leaders to call a strike if further negotiations and mediation failed.But both sides found common ground during talks that lasted into Thursday evening.The contract covers hotel workers, costumed characters, bus drivers, ticket takers, ride operators and concession workers.Union members rejected two previous proposals.Disney backed down from what union leaders considered a deal-breaker: raising the number of hours that part-timers can work.Union leaders said the company was trying to reduce its need for full-time workers to save money on benefits.Chambers said under the latest proposal, top-scale workers who currently earn US$11,12 (N$67,83) an hour will get a 20-cent-an-hour increase and a lump sum bonus of between US$$1,500 and US$$1,700 during the contract’s first year.In the second year, they will get another lump sum, and in the third year they will get a 25-cent-an-hour increase.The starting minimum wage, currently US$$6,70 an hour, will increase 10 cents an hour for each year of the contract. -Nampa-AP