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Despite economic woes nationwide, Disney Corporation’s winter quarter profits hit a record high of $1.18 billion. Despite this the company is seeking to start charging employees at its three Anaheim hotels for health insurance. Disney also proposes denying health benefits to employees who work fewer than 30 hours or 5 days per week. The housekeepers, bellmen, bartenders, dishwashers, and cooks employed at the Disneyland, Grand Californian, and Paradise Pier hotels have currently been working without a contract since the end of January. In May, Disney representatives walked out on negotiations after workers expressed concern over losing health benefits. Unite Here! Local 681, the union representing the 2,300 workers employed by the company, says that free health insurance is the saving grace of an otherwise meager contract. Without a raise in the average hourly wage of $11.30 per hour, Unite Here! says new health care premiums would price many workers out of insurance. In response to the breakdown in negotiations, workers are planning to picket the Paradise Pier Hotel and march in front of Disneyland tomorrow evening.

GUEST: Ada F. Briceno, President/Business Manager, Unite Here! Local 681, Aida Hermosillo, Banquet Worker and Isabel Barerra, Laundry Worker at Disneyland Hotel.

For more information call 714-750-4373. There will be a rally and action on Thursday August 14th at Paradise Pier, 1600 S. Disneyland Drive at 4:30 pm.