Just Wondering: Does AnyBody Here Work Directly For Disney?

[SofaKing381222]

I was just wonderin' if anyone here is directly employed by Disney because thatd be seriously cool!

[reyquila]

Anyone working for Disney better keep himself or herself undercover here !!!

Revealing confidential or sensitive info, or bad mouthing your employer may be good cause for a termination. Just a labor lawyer here talking !!

[Loomis]

I was just wonderin' if anyone here is directly employed by Disney because thatd be seriously cool!

From what I understand about the way Disney pay/treat some of their staff, "seriously cool" doesn't enter into it.

Disney have one of the worst track records for human rights/labour rights abuses in developing countries. They are a little bit better now, but it took a public outcry (and Crackers the Crime Fighting Chicken) to slowly have things changed.

[Today4U]

I didn't know that some Disney employees were treated poorly. I knew someone whose father worked for Disney for quite a long time and he loved working for them more than anyone else. He was an Imaginear or however you spell it.

[DreamerQ18]

I dont know of anyone but I know that I would one day love to work for Disney it has been my long time childhood goal silly I know but I think it would be the coolest thing ever.

[Commodore Barbosa]

I know 2 people who currently work at Disneyland, one is a costume character chaperone, and her husband does design and detail upkeep on attractions and shows (one step below an imagineer). They both adore their jobs, and wouldn't have it any other way.

I also know someone who just last year QUIT his job with Feature Animation...enough said...

[Loomis]

I have just heard some horror stories (that is any job, of course), but their labour abuse practices are a matter of public record.

From what I understand, things HAVE improved over the last few years, but the fact that it was going on at all with a company like Disney is disgusting.

Here are some instances of what I'm talking about (Bangladesh being the most prominent case of abuse):
http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/cam ... disney.htm (2003)

http://www.nlcnet.org/campaigns/shahmakhdum/ (2004)

http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/99-8-5.htm (Hong Kong, 1999)

http://members.tripod.com/~cawhk/9904/9904art02.htm (More on Hong Kong - 'Working for Disney is No Fairy Tale')

http://www.williambowles.info/haiti-new ... 61295.html (Haiti, 1997)
"For each Pocahontas pajamas priced at 11 dollars and 97 cents in Wal-Mart, a Haitian worker receives only 7 cents"

See Disney can claim they are abiding by local laws. However, when the economy is poor in the first place, you will often find countries changing local laws just so the big companies will come and set up shop there. The big companies (Disney not being an exception) will use this to their advantage, and have a technically legal way of exploiting workers. Legal, maybe. Moral, no.

Then all it takes is for another nation to say "Ok, you can have our workers for 9c" and off the Company will go, leaving the first country completely screwed (technical term there).

I can find more examples if you like!

[reyquila]

I have just heard some horror stories (that is any job, of course), but their labour abuse practices are a matter of public record.

From what I understand, things HAVE improved over the last few years, but the fact that it was going on at all with a company like Disney is disgusting.

Here are some instances of what I'm talking about (Bangladesh being the most prominent case of abuse):
http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/cam ... disney.htm (2003)

http://www.nlcnet.org/campaigns/shahmakhdum/ (2004)

http://www.cleanclothes.org/news/99-8-5.htm (Hong Kong, 1999)

http://members.tripod.com/~cawhk/9904/9904art02.htm (More on Hong Kong - 'Working for Disney is No Fairy Tale')

http://www.williambowles.info/haiti-new ... 61295.html (Haiti, 1997)
"For each Pocahontas pajamas priced at 11 dollars and 97 cents in Wal-Mart, a Haitian worker receives only 7 cents"

See Disney can claim they are abiding by local laws. However, when the economy is poor in the first place, you will often find countries changing local laws just so the big companies will come and set up shop there. The big companies (Disney not being an exception) will use this to their advantage, and have a technically legal way of exploiting workers. Legal, maybe. Moral, no.

Then all it takes is for another nation to say "Ok, you can have our workers for 9c" and off the Company will go, leaving the first country completely screwed (technical term there).

I can find more examples if you like!

Tough luck, but Im not complaing and certainly not planning on changing the world.

[Loomis]

Tough luck, but Im not complaing and certainly not planning on changing the world.

Well, that answers any questions as to why these companies get away with it for so long.

Even if people know, they don't care.

As long as the cover art is nice, or there is a bloody insert, we can ignore business practices. And when Eisner is attacked by fans, it is for something mundane like "Oh, that cover looks crap" and "Ooh...HE is releasing ANOTHER cheapquel", things that he is not directly responsible for.

Yet, for an issue as important as human rights abuse, something which the head of the company CAN be held accountable for, the attitude is "Tough luck".

reyquila - didn't you just say you were a labour lawyer?!?!? Remind me never to ask for you if I am going in to bat for my worker's rights!!!

"Your honour - tough luck, really...".

Gotta love people!

[Aladdin]

Loomis,

That's corporate America for you. Disney is not the only company doing this ..... just look at all the jobs (manufacturing and Technology) that are leaving North America and heading to Asia and India.

The reason ? ...... CHEAP labour. It's the workers over there that agree to work for these prices that are the problem .... NOT the companies. It makes perfect business sense.

[Loomis]

That's corporate America for you. Disney is not the only company doing this ..... just look at all the jobs (manufacturing and Technology) that are leaving North America and heading to Asia and India.

The reason ? ...... CHEAP labour. It's the workers over there that agree to work for these prices that are the problem .... NOT the companies. It makes perfect business sense.

Arrrgh...

That is even worse. "Oh well, it's corporate America for ya! Guess it is ok then!". You don't see this as a problem?

What did I just say? I'm not saying it is only Disney, I'm using them as an example (because, we are at a Disney forum, you know). The JOBS aren't leaving America and heading to Asia and India - the manufacturing plants are. WHY? Because the countries try to make it lucrative for the big businesses to invest there by lowering their worker standards, which allow a big company to invest with minimum costs.

Corporations create an environment in which it is seen as better to destroy your own laws and worker's minimum wages, simply so that company will invest in your country.

Yes, of course there is cheap labour. That's my whole point. It is cheap because Disney (or any company) have to pay them a few cents a day. Can you honestly believe that the workers over there would gladly accept 11 cents a day? "We here at Disney were willing to pay $10 an hour, but the workers only wanted 11 cents, so..." Plus, these companies pull out when they are offered a "better" price by another country, one that has sacrificed its labour laws even further!

See, Disney and other companies go there because it is cheap. It is cheap, because those countries want to entice Disney and other companies to be there. See the vicious cycle here? How far is this going to go?

It's not just corporate America, it is the cost of globalization. And the indifference here is quite shocking!

[Paka]

People here are indifferent because we're removed from the situation, Loomis. We don't have to experience it or even see it. As long as we have our own cushy lives, and as long as an environment of apathy and blissful ignorance is maintained, no one in the well-off Western world will care. We won't care until it very directly affects us (the innate, instinctual selfishness of mankind strikes again ). No one here will really care about the situation until it's too late, sadly enough. *sigh* Wish I could give you a less bleak answer, but that's just my insight. -_-

[2099net]

Disney is a wonderful employer. Who else would employ a mouse, a creature that is considered as vermin all over the world, and actually use him as a corporate symbol? And Disney are also very understanding when it comes down to Donald and his temper tantrums. We all know that if we flew off the handle at work as often as Donald does, we'd be fired, no questions asked.

But Disney has also made other leaps and bounds when it comes to equal opportunities. They hired the first openly gay dragon, and made him the star of a children's film in the early 40's. Who else would do that at such a conservative time, when being gay was something that was kept hidden and looked upon with such distate all of the time?

Plus Disney has fought hard for Dwarfs rights - such blockbusters as the Lord of the Rings trilogy wouldn't have been possible without Disney taking the first step and hiring Dwarfs for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and insisting on paying the going rate for each (apart for Dopey who insisted on being paid in Kisses from Snow White rather then money).

[2099net]

There is a problem with Disney, but it's sort of steps removed from the company. While I have no doubt that Disney to pay minimum wage to a lot of their employees, and we all know horror stories about conditions for the employees at the theme parks since they were first opened (even when kindly old "Uncle Walt" was in charge) the main charges against Disney are the result of other companies.

Disney make very little of what is sold as Disney mechandise. Often they grant a licence to a third-party, who then makes and sells the goods themselves. Its often these companies that employ the child labour and pays peanuts.

That's not to say Disney is blameless. They could 100% insist on better working conditions and pay for the workers as part of the conditions of the licence. They could keep a blacklist of offenders and not do business with them in the future. The simple matter is cheap pay and long hours suits both the third-party manufacturer and it suits Disney. Therefore nothing is done and the situation is ignored, especially in "polite" company.

As for Disney's overseas cartoon studios, I was actually reading somewhere on the Internet a week or so ago (sorry, I don't have the link) that the Animation studios in Korea have excellent working conditions, pay exceptionally good money (for the national average) and also offer more holidays etc than most other Korean businesses. While this doesn't make it right - Disney are still exploiting the cheap labour, even if they do pay above the national going rate - it probably puts things into some sort of perspective. Then again, I've also heard, first hand as it happens, that Disney's Australian Studio pays at the lower end of the scale and does expect the employees to work long hours for no extra reward (but thats probably the result of a devalued dollar - Disney are probably expecting to get the same amout of work done for the same dollar value).

[reyquila]

Tough luck, but Im not complaing and certainly not planning on changing the world.

Well, that answers any questions as to why these companies get away with it for so long.

Even if people know, they don't care.

As long as the cover art is nice, or there is a bloody insert, we can ignore business practices. And when Eisner is attacked by fans, it is for something mundane like "Oh, that cover looks crap" and "Ooh...HE is releasing ANOTHER cheapquel", things that he is not directly responsible for.

Yet, for an issue as important as human rights abuse, something which the head of the company CAN be held accountable for, the attitude is "Tough luck".

reyquila - didn't you just say you were a labour lawyer?!?!? Remind me never to ask for you if I am going in to bat for my worker's rights!!!

"Your honour - tough luck, really...".

Im a management labor lawyer, representing only companies from claims in federal and local courts, admnistrartive forums and collective bargaining. Should open a business, call. Here in Puerto Rico we have federal courts as in the states and federal laws apply as aswell.

I'm defined as to which side I'm on.

Gotta love people!

[reyquila]

Tough luck, but Im not complaing and certainly not planning on changing the world.

Well, that answers any questions as to why these companies get away with it for so long.

Even if people know, they don't care.

As long as the cover art is nice, or there is a bloody insert, we can ignore business practices. And when Eisner is attacked by fans, it is for something mundane like "Oh, that cover looks crap" and "Ooh...HE is releasing ANOTHER cheapquel", things that he is not directly responsible for.

Yet, for an issue as important as human rights abuse, something which the head of the company CAN be held accountable for, the attitude is "Tough luck".

reyquila - didn't you just say you were a labour lawyer?!?!? Remind me never to ask for you if I am going in to bat for my worker's rights!!!

"Your honour - tough luck, really...".

Gotta love people!

Im a management labor lawyer, representing only companies from claims in federal and local courts, administrative forums and collective bargaining. Should you open a business, call. Here in Puerto Rico we have federal courts as in the states and federal laws apply as aswell.

I'm defined as to which side I'm on. But I really respect your position though

[Loomis]

Im a management labor lawyer, representing only companies from claims in federal and local courts, administrative forums and collective bargaining. Should you open a business, call. Here in Puerto Rico we have federal courts as in the states and federal laws apply as aswell.

I'm defined as to which side I'm on. But I really respect your position though

It's ok - from one lawyer to another, sorry if I blasted you there. I was more pissed off at the indifference so-called "fans" have to management practices that impact on the health and well-being of employees, while thowing their arms up when an insert is not included.

However - If I ever open a business in Puerto Rico, I'll look you up

So nice - you quoted me twice!

[reyquila]

Loomis,

That's corporate America for you. Disney is not the only company doing this ..... just look at all the jobs (manufacturing and Technology) that are leaving North America and heading to Asia and India.

The reason ? ...... CHEAP labour. It's the workers over there that agree to work for these prices that are the problem .... NOT the companies. It makes perfect business sense.

We are on the same page here my friend.

[AwallaceUNC]

and we all know horror stories about conditions for the employees at the theme parks since they were first opened (even when kindly old "Uncle Walt" was in charge) the main charges against Disney are the result of other companies.

Ok, you've peaked my interest. I've heard from many that it's not the best place to work, but since I'll be joining there sometime in the semi-near future, I'd love to hear some of these stories.

-Aaron

[disneyfella]

I am a former area six operations cast member from The Disney Studios. I currently hold a position in the company as a Campus Representative at my college, and still have many.....MANY contacts within the company itself. For the most part working for Disney was an amazing experience. The training and type of work environments provided were the best I've ever seen. The pay and employee treatment was not what I would have expected, but it wasn't bad. When you leave working for the parks, there's something that you don't expect......withdrawal symptoms! Everyone loves their coworkers and the family environment that STILL can exist in the parks between coworkers. Disney often would hold cast member exclusive events such as theater and stage work put on by the Walt Disney World cast members themselves. The perks were good and the people were so nice. I loved my experience while working in the parks and would gladly accept a position in the future back at MGM. Every Fortune 500 company is going to come under scrutiny and EVERY company is going to have disgruntled employees. It is just so much more obvious when those employees come from "the happiest place on earth". Don't apply every criticism from park employees to all Disney cast members.