This whole, well it sucks to be me so it should suck to be you mentality by the general public is exactly the kind of attitude that corporations count on when their employees dare to have the audacity to ask for living wages or God forbid affordable health care.
We all pay good sums of money to go to Disney parks. We expect Disney, not an outfit that is not Disney cast members. Contracting out work can affect more than quality, it can also affect personal safety. These contracted out employees may not have the same backround checks or quality control as Disney. Lets keep Disney quality. Disney make huge profits off the parks, I don't mind that, it is the most value for your dollar for any vacation. However, the quality will not last, and the "magic" will not be there. Long time patrons are noticing.
Look, the fact of the matter is this. I want Disney to provide higher than living wages. I want Disney to provide affordable health care and to stop outsourcing. I want Disney to treat its employees better. Why? Because it will attract a higher caliber of person who will be motivated to provide the kind of "magic" that people love Disney for. They will have more of an investment in the company because they realize the company cares about its employees. Is it any wonder that Disney has been having problems filling cast member positions?
With the ever rising costs of park tickets and Disney rolling in the profits, I see nothing wrong with reinvesting some of that windfall back into the Disney work force. You know. The people you come into contact with on a daily basis when at the parks. You know. The people who are there to ensure the attractions run smoothly and safely and that your room is properly cleaned and that deal with whatever cranky guests throw at them with a smile and who, God bless 'em, entertain guests while wearing some awful, heavy, smelly, hot costume so people can get their bit of "magic."
The amazing thing to me is that the people who cry foul whenever cast members ask to have their reasonable needs addressed are also the same people who complain that the cast members aren't what they used to be.
I'll probably be slashed for this but I have to say it. Their problems with their employer is not any different than others. My husband works in education. We pay right at $200/month for our insurance, his + me, no kids. We pay right at $100/month for persriptions and that is with perscription coverage. 2 bedroom apartments in our neck of the woods cost about $900/month. My dad is a truck driver. His and my mothers insurance cost is $250/month and they pay close to $200/month for perscriptions and they to have coverage. Disney employees are in about the same shape as the rest of us. You would think my husband working for a county school system as a Technology Specialist, he would make much more than he does. Its not just Disney employees that is feeling the hurt especially with health care cost. We have an excellent insurance company but we pay a lot for it per month not counting what the county chucks in. I know many will not agree with me on this, but we are all pretty much in the same boat with the cost of living, health care, insurance cost, housing, ect.