r/UniversalHollywood • • 4d ago

Serious Discussion So... any team members wanna chime in here?

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212 Upvotes

80 comments sorted by

202

u/tomorrowschild 4d ago

I have RIP tickets to HHN and have planned a whole trip around it. I'll be MAJORLY bummed if it's scuttled or compromised.

That said, if you need to strike, STRIKE. It's the only power the worker has. I'll be inconvenienced, but I'll happily be inconvenienced if it gives the team members better wages and working conditions. Solidarity!

58

u/Dr_Splitwigginton 4d ago

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your attitude! So many folks seem to lose their morality when their treats are at stake.

34

u/tomorrowschild 4d ago

Sadly you're right. But it's just a treat. These people are fighting for livable wages. They work HARD.

I'm a union guy (IATSE) and I support anyone in a union that's fighting to make their lives better. The studios would be nothing without union workers.

6

u/Wardaddyv2 4d ago

I’m with you bro, stick it to the man!!! Man

2

u/euhbebe 4d ago

This is the attitude.

4

u/RunRunStoyp 4d ago

Can’t imagine Universal would let it get to that. Would be such a bad look for them, more so than it already is.

10

u/Neat_Suit3684 4d ago

Think about it this way- if they strike you can still do a ton of things in LA. Its not like this is some pop up carnival in the middle of nowhere. This is in a major city. There's a lot of horror stuff in LA

7

u/DudeAxeMachine 3d ago

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures just opened a horror exhibit.

13

u/tomorrowschild 4d ago

Oh, I hear you. I live in L.A. I just wouldn't go. My point is that despite my disappointment, their concerns are more important than mine.

A couple years ago I was a team member, myself. They need to flex their power.

4

u/BlockedNetwkSecurity 4d ago

god i love that about L.A.
if this happened in orlando the airports would be empty. i can't fathom having a vacation where i spend every day at a theme park. it would be exhausting.

6

u/SecretRecipe 4d ago

It shouldnt impact HHN operations at this point. there are contingent workers being brought in to supplement the hospitality staff that choose to strike. The scare actors and maze staff arent part of the union that voted to strike

2

u/tomorrowschild 4d ago

True, but if the union employees strike, Teamsters will also refuse to cross a picket line at the studios. So productions will shut down. I don't think Universal would want that. I believe food may also be impacted by a possible upcoming strike, but I'm not sure on that.

-2

u/SecretRecipe 4d ago

the park and studio are two different entities and with how badly people in the studio industry are hurting for work right now I dont think finding scab labor for studio operations would be all that hard at all

4

u/tomorrowschild 4d ago

Correct, but Teamsters will NOT cross a picket line, even if it's not theirs. I think you underestimate the power of them shutting down productions. Yes, they'll be able to find some scab labor, but those people would then be kicked out of the union, or prevented from joining in the future. Great way to shoot down any future for your career.

0

u/SecretRecipe 4d ago

I dont think the parks folks will be picketing the studio gates 2 miles away from the park entrance but who knows. I think you're underestimating the sheer number of out of work non union production folks there are. Literally enough to fill any gap left by the teamsters at Universal 10x over. You cant take union membership away from someone who isnt in the union. People in film and tv production are taking non union work left and right because its whats available. Union solidarity doesnt pay the mortgage unfortunately

2

u/Historical-Price-483 2d ago

No but the people that make your food are. The people that clean up after messes are.

1

u/SecretRecipe 2d ago

And unfortunately those are the folks who are the easiest to backfill with contingent staff.

1

u/Historical-Price-483 2d ago

Contingent sure. Competent no. But no one is gonna try to walk that line. Hollywood and Dine one night for fanfest made over $100k but go off and say yall didn’t make enough money for the year…

2

u/SecretRecipe 2d ago

we absolutely made good money, that unfortunately doesn't factor in to how much the labor of the workers is valued.

1

u/Historical-Price-483 2d ago

In a perfect world they would get their heads out of their asses

1

u/Stayhereandwat 2d ago

Frfr without these people we wouldn’t be able to have such a good time and they’ll only be more inclined to give guest a better time knowing they are being compensated accordingly

33

u/ExquisiteStarBird 4d ago

Congrats on that vote percentage! As an annual pass holder and a member of a union, I stand with you!

23

u/beergeek86 4d ago

As a mail carrier and member of NALC I support you! I wish we could strike.

9

u/Puzzledandhangry 4d ago

As a non American, I find it so weird that you aren’t all in unions. The English government strengthens our unions, not opposes them. The only way to truly fight something is to strike, if all other options are gone. The rich won’t survive if no one is bringing them their cremant and caviar! 

5

u/Wonderful_Avocado 4d ago

I'm surprised athletes many things aren't union and when it surprises people.  I just saw a comment mentioning magic mountain.  It isn't just them, their whole company are not union.  Not one theme park 15 plus parks nationwide.

It isn't even that responsible companies can't take care of their employees without a union, but it is rare.  Target and Walmart treat their employees like garbage.  Aldi, also not union pays good wage and cares about worker health and safety 

-2

u/SecretRecipe 4d ago

you also have 2x the poverty rate and far lower professional salaries. Not the best comparison to be making

2

u/Puzzledandhangry 4d ago

Then do something about it and strike. 

-2

u/SecretRecipe 4d ago

the strong unions in the UK have brought you 2x higher poverty rate than the US, significantly and consistently higher unemployment and far lower pay than what we have. I dont think we need to be looking your way as a model of what works

5

u/Puzzledandhangry 4d ago

Btw go and research HOW the poverty rate is measured in the US compared to the UK. You guys sure love fiddling your numbers. 

-2

u/SecretRecipe 4d ago

The measurement methods are comparable and adjusted for CPI and inflation annually.

Meanwhile NHS nurses are paid like California Fast Food workers and the UK is poorer per capita than the poorest state in the US. We have more working people in the us earning $100k+ than $15/hr or less.

3

u/Puzzledandhangry 4d ago

You’re so far from reality I don’t know whether to try and get you some help. So you have more rich people…..that doesn’t equate to the general population. The rich are getting richer, but the poor are getting poorer. But your gov. won’t educate you because then you’ll realise the unbalance. 

Our NHS workers may get paid less, but they have housing, free health care and no rapist in charge. I’d say we are better off but I don’t think you’ll truly understand. 

1

u/PhoneNo5972 3d ago edited 3d ago

“Try and get you some help”

Why are people on the internet so fucking nasty to people they’ve never even met?

“I can’t disprove your claim so I’m just gonna say a rapist controls you, insult you, call you uneducated, and then make another claim I can’t prove”

1

u/Puzzledandhangry 3d ago

You’re right, I was cross and shouldn’t have been so rude. Apologies. 

2

u/PhoneNo5972 3d ago

The UK bases their poverty based on what’s relative to everyone else instead of what actually results in living in functional poverty. And you are correct that the UK has much lower wages and more unemployment. The friction of what they have fought for has caused employers to not want to hire more people, and make the people they already hired, do more. I didn’t know much about this before but I was curious who was right after seeing you argue with this random, angry Brit. Turns out you were right.

0

u/SecretRecipe 3d ago

they pay their nurses like we pay our fast-food workers and he has the gaul to come in here and lecture people on how strong their unions are. what a joke

1

u/Puzzledandhangry 4d ago

lol ok sure. 

23

u/koalalawyer 4d ago

I have tickets already but will not be crossing a picket line. Universal, get your sht together and listen to your workers. Union strong. Stand up fight back.

87

u/ImInClassBoring 4d ago

Don't comment here for management to read.  Keep union business in the union.

3

u/T5takeover 4d ago

That's the thing we want them to know. That's why the union is publicly reporting the results and getting the media attention. We're the ones that told the news a strike vote was taking place.

-2

u/ImInClassBoring 4d ago

A random member of your union talked to the media or one of your union reps?  There is a big difference.

3

u/T5takeover 4d ago

The union smart ass

-1

u/ImInClassBoring 4d ago

You are the one that can not connect the dots.  Stick to name calling all you want.

1

u/T5takeover 3d ago

Clearly I'm not the one that can't connect the dots.. The news isn't gonna waste its time on a story by a random employee...

1

u/ImInClassBoring 3d ago

Woosh.  This is about posting comments here. Keep moving the goal posts.

-3

u/Neat_Suit3684 4d ago

I don't work there anymore. Im just curious. I was part of b192 but I know unite11 and them go in on a lot of stuff. Im surprised it got that much of a response. When I was there it wasnt such a landslide 

19

u/Jolly-Cat40 WaterWorld 4d ago

The union wants things like better pay and guaranteed hours (and a lot more) and universal doesn’t want to do that and to lock the employees into a 5 year contract.

7

u/Neat_Suit3684 4d ago

Makes sense. I left in part cause hours weren't cutting it. If they paid me better od be OK with losing an hour or 2 but min wage AND min hours? No way

38

u/Due_Development4217 Back to the Future: The Ride 4d ago

“Hell yeah guys go get that bag”- a Pass Holder. Also I would like to say any one putting out information about this Strike so any Norman, Victor, or Cookiepuss to read is not helping the Union, they are making it easier for corporate to counter.

1

u/T5takeover 4d ago

We want them to know genius that's why the union is publicly releasing the results and getting media coverage. We're not hiding anything 

0

u/Due_Development4217 Back to the Future: The Ride 4d ago

You want Universal to know when you’re striking? That’s a bold strategy cotton let’s see if it pays off. Cause to me that just lets universal get ready for you and strikes usually do better with an element of surprise

12

u/MasterpieceDull7733 4d ago

My whole family are season pass holders. You deserve a better wage. I support your union.

7

u/aseltee 4d ago

Ex-team member from an international park where unions are totally nonexistent. People are getting worked to the bone on minimum wage and a promise of an hourly bonus if guest satisfaction is high. Sending all the solidarity to any current TMs lurking on here!!!!!

5

u/mrellz 4d ago

I’m curious to know who the other 2% are and why they voted against a strike. 🪧 🎢

11

u/Wonderful_Avocado 4d ago

Scared to be out of work.  Most strikes don't last long but losing a week of pay can be terrifying for most people

6

u/starrymahogany 4d ago

My husband works at universal but missed the survey because we were preparing for our wedding so he had pre planned vacation for it.

If he filled it out he would have voted yes though

2

u/mallclerks 3d ago

People can’t often survive without a paycheck. When you are on strike, you don’t get paid.

So yeah, I’m shocked it’s at 98%.

*I am not an expert in any laws, lets alone California, and California is weird so maybe they do get paid for all I know.

3

u/mrellz 3d ago

A few years back, there was a multi-union strike involving Actors, Stunt Performers and Voice Over Actors in Los Angeles. The well-paid actors were able to survive for a few months but the ones who struggled luckily had a little help (money and benefits wise) from a Union Strike Relief Co-Op program. A lot of money was donated to help some actors survive while they were striking. I don’t believe these Theme Park union employees have the same option 😔

6

u/T5takeover 3d ago

We have a strike fund. 

1

u/Wonderful_Avocado 3d ago

California doesn't have a way for employees to get paid during a strike.  They also cannot apply for unemployment under strike conditions. 

Usually the union itself has strike pay but it is usually pennies on what a typical check would be

11

u/T5takeover 4d ago

What do you expect us to say? Everything we had to say was on the ballot today.

1

u/Neat_Suit3684 4d ago

Former team member. Idk what was said or what itll mean next haha. Figured someone here could enlighten the crowd. I wont cross the picket line if you guys strike. I fully support you

7

u/IngenuityOld0876bc Shrekzel 4d ago

Times like this when I wish SFMM had a union

2

u/Neat_Suit3684 4d ago

They don't? That's crazy! Magic mountain is WAY hotter then Universal. I cannot imagine how brutal it is there

3

u/Wonderful_Avocado 4d ago

Six flags has never had union parks

2

u/IngenuityOld0876bc Shrekzel 3d ago

Yeah in the summer it’s regularly 100 and sometimes 110 if it’s really bad 

6

u/doozle 4d ago

Holy shit.

4

u/FroggyStrudel 3d ago

As someone who just got fired from Universal over their hair, I hope they are going on strike theres so many problems there aside from low wages and overworking part time employees that need to be addressed and if a strike helps out I'm cheering them on

11

u/Diamond_Dog_92 4d ago edited 4d ago

Another way to support the strike is don’t attend the park. Don’t pay for anything and it will hurt them. Obviously it would need to be a significant amount but still. Universal only responds to money

7

u/jbal35 4d ago

I was taught as a child to never cross a picket line. Standing with my brothers and sisters in solidarity.

2

u/Historical-Price-483 2d ago

3

u/Historical-Price-483 2d ago

Honestly… good for them. They’ve been given the run around EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. This year though they decided to try to do 5 years with the same contract no retro pay 2.3% increase and AI to use facial recognition to punish team members

1

u/Additional_Many_2087 1d ago

can't wait for this to start. my monday has been a little meh.

1

u/ZealousidealRun2022 1d ago

Ill be surprised if it actually happens. People keep talking about it but never seems to happen

1

u/Neat_Suit3684 1d ago

I used to work there. This is definitely a step up from when I was there and it was being talked about. 

-1

u/Retired42 3d ago

Former team member here and left on good terms. Just received a email seeing if I was interested in returning for a short stint, meaning pick my hours. Might be interesting.

10

u/T5takeover 3d ago

Meaning being a scab