Los Angeles Update

Hunger Strike Moves from Anaheim to Disney Headquarters in Burbank

February 17, 2010

Hundreds march in Disneyland streets, as eight hunger strikers pass the FAST to five new hotel workers

ANAHEIM - Eight hunger strikers ended their fast Tuesday evening after seven days without food. In an 700-person march and ceremony that shut down Disneyland Drive, workers "passed the fast" on to five hotel workers who will carry the hunger strike to Walt Disney Corporate headquarters in Burbank.

"Workers have engaged in this fast to bring attention to the unethical, irresponsible and short-sided behavior of one of Orange County's largest employers," said Ada Briceno, secretary-treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 11. "For the past two years, workers have been fighting Disney's greedy attempts to make healthcare unaffordable for many and to "reclassify" hundreds of hotel workers, stripping them of their healthcare benefits."

For seven nights, fasters set up camp and remained 24 hours a day in front of the Grand Californian Hotel.

Tefere Gebre, executive director of the Orange County Labor Federation, said the outpouring of support from non-Disney workers, the community, clergy and labor has proven that Disney hotel workers are not alone in this fight.

Since the fast began on Tuesday, Feb. 9, workers have staged daily events from picket lines and rallies to a meet-and-greet with elected leaders and a performance by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.

Disney hotel workers have also reached out to Disney guests, informing visitors of the workers' struggle with the company and collecting more than 200 guest e-mail addresses to keep them abreast of the labor dispute.

"It's the people who vacuum the carpets, make the beds, scrub the bathrooms, greet the guests and carry the bags, you, who make the magic happen here at Disneyland, and you deserve to be treated with respect," said John Wilhelm, president of UNITE HERE, who visited fasters Monday night.

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