The Walt Disney Co., and members of Unite Here Local 11 (representing workers from three Disney World hotels) have clashed over a cost-sharing proposal for the company's health care system. The company has in the past provided employees, who mostly earn low wages, with virtually free health care, but as rising health care costs and recession concerns grow, the company has asked employees to pick up a share of the premium. Many employees are not happy with the proposal saying that the only get by on the low wages because they do not have to pay for health care. Disgruntled employees in Disney character costumes staged a "sick-in" outside the Anaheim Convention Center late last week, on they day Disney CEO Bob Iger was scheduled to speak.
See "Disney, union workers clash over healthcare", Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, September 13, 2009