Massive yoga class held pre-dawn for Disney cast members at Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle

I have to admit, this is pretty cool. Maybe it's stuff like this that convince people to stay in front-line jobs dealing with tourists for low pay.

If they really hated poor people, they would have made them pay for the class.

Jeff said:

I have to admit, this is pretty cool. Maybe it's stuff like this that convince people to stay in front-line jobs dealing with tourists for low pay.

They do cool stuff like this a couple times a year. Wasn’t enough to make me stay, but I can see for some how it would be.

In no order, the three coolest things I got to do when I was a Cast Member was a lights on walking tour of Haunted Mansion, a lights on walking tour of Spaceship Earth, and a lights on ride night for Space Mountain.

Jeff said:
I have to admit, this is pretty cool. Maybe it's stuff like this that convince people to stay in front-line jobs dealing with tourists for low pay.

Or, you know, there aren’t many viable options for some folks. Asking for a livable wage isn’t too much to ask from one of the most profitable corporations in the world.

This was an event I supported and I have to say that it’s pretty awesome watching that many people doing yoga all at once. It was a bit humid for me this morning but still fun nonetheless. I believe this was the 3rd year they have done this for Cast Members.

etrainimac said:
Or, you know, there aren’t many viable options for some folks. Asking for a livable wage isn’t too much to ask from one of the most profitable corporations in the world.

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/360/384/302.jpg

etrainimac said:

Or, you know, there aren’t many viable options for some folks. Asking for a livable wage isn’t too much to ask from one of the most profitable corporations in the world.

Alright, so the next time you go to Publix or Wal Mart or wherever to buy groceries, I fully expect you to pull an extra $20 out of your wallet above what they are charging you and give it to them. You can afford it, so you should pay it, right?

If $10 per hour is not a "livable wage," you're doing life wrong. If you settle for less money in an economy where unemployment is under 4%, because Pixie Dust, you're definitely doing it wrong.

Try living on $10 an hour. It’s not pretty and it’s frankly sad especially working for such a big giant like Disney. They should be ashamed paying a starvation wage.

etrainimac said:
Asking for a livable wage

Please tell me what a "livable wage" is. What's the magic number? Considering my current cost of living, anything less than $40 and hour is not livable, and even at $40/hr I'd have to make some significant spending cuts to make do. But that's not to say I couldn't live on $10/hr if I completely altered my way of living (downsized my home, vehicle(s), made my wife get a job, sold my kids, etc.).

Seriously...arguing about what you think a company should be paying its employees is on par with arguing that the cost of certain products should be lower, because reasons. "This Ferrari isn't worth $250000, I should be able to own one for $300 a month for 3 years."

Or hell, everything should be free and we shouldn't have to work at all!

Yeah, such a terrible argument on both ends.

That a certain wage should be paid because the employee "needs" it and also that a certain wage should be paid because the employer "has" it.

no.

Vater said:

Or hell, everything should be free and we shouldn't have to work at all!

Good thing Bernie lost.

^I think I'd like a T-shirt that says that. No context or pictures (please no pictures) or anything, just the words.

etrainimac said:
Try living on $10 an hour. It’s not pretty and it’s frankly sad especially working for such a big giant like Disney.

Please. In the summer of 1993 I was making $4.50/hr., and only working 25 hours a week. Adjusted for inflation, that's $7.84 in today's dollars. So not only did I live on it, I lived on *less* working less than full-time.

The whole "company can afford it" thing is such a gross misunderstanding of economics that I don't know where to begin. Should I spend twice as much on food or double tip my waitor just because "I can afford it?"

This isn't a moral issue. Low skill jobs pay low wages because work has value, and low skill work isn't valuable. The guy selling churros doesn't have the same responsibility as an Imagineer.

It’s very much a moral issue considering some Disney employees can’t afford housing so they’re homeless or living in motels. I just find this so sad that you’d all defend such a big corporation over the lowly workers who are the ones actually providing the “magic”. So, yes, it certainly is a moral issue.

No, it's not. If someone can't live on Disney's pay, that's not Disney's problem when they're paying the market rate for those jobs. It's the employee's responsibility to change their situation. No one is holding them there against their will. If enough people change their situation and leave Disney short staffed, they'll be forced to raise pay. I'm not sure why I'm continuing to respond to someone that has no grasp of simple supply and demand.

If these people were working at an equal low skill job that wasn't Disney, does that change the story? Why should Disney have to pay more for unskilled labor than anyone else simply because they are Disney?

It's not like these folks have the option to make $25 an hour doing the same thing somewhere else. If anything, the pay, benefits, and perks are better than they would be elsewhere .

Wait...you're saying Disney isn't a charity?

BrettV said:

If these people were working at an equal low skill job that wasn't Disney, does that change the story?

^This.^ It has nothing to do with Disney and their financial position. I would be making the same argument for any company, regardless of size or financial status.