Disney, union stalled over where to hold contract talks
Resort hotel workers want to meet at a company-owned site, but management seeks a neutral location.
Contract negotiations are seldom easy, but this could be a new low. Talks between Disney and one of the resort's biggest unions are stalled for an unlikely reason: The parties have spent two months trying to agree on a meeting place.
Union leaders believe that rancor over a dispute about housing for workers in the Anaheim Resort District has spilled into talks between Walt Disney Co. and employees at three Disney hotels. The contract between Disney and the union representing 2,200 housekeepers, bartenders, bellmen, dishwashers and cooks expired last week.
On several occasions over the last year, hundreds of resort workers have packed Anaheim City Hall, wearing stickers and carrying signs in support of a large residential project in the Resort District that would have included 225 low-cost apartments. Disney and tourism officials also showed up in force, in support of keeping the area around the amusement parks free of housing.
The project collapsed months ago, but union leaders believe the bitterness remains.
Ada Briceno, president of Unite Here Local 681, aired her concerns last week at a City Council meeting, two days before the previous four-year contract expired.
"Historically, the Disney negotiations have been held on Disney property. . . . We can't help but wonder if Disney's sudden change in posture comes in retaliation for our members' role in the contentious issue that dominated political debate in Anaheim last year," she said.
Disney officials say contract negotiations and the housing discussion are "two completely separate issues."
"We care about our [employees], and we are trying to take a very reasonable approach to these negotiations," said John Nicoletti, a Disney spokesman. "We've been trying to locate a sensible meeting place since December. We've been available and willing to meet."
Union officials are demanding that the talks take place on Disney's home turf, at one of the company's three resort hotels.
"It allows workers to have a voice. Disney wants to stifle that voice, insisting negotiations be held off-site where parking could be scarce, access limited and workers would have a much harder time being part of the process," Briceno told the City Council.
Disney has proposed meeting at a neutral location -- the Anaheim Hilton, located in the Resort District. Disney officials say holding talks at a Disney hotel would be disruptive to guests and employees.
