Cnn.com Mickey, Cinderella win right to clean underwear June 7, 2001 Posted: 2:16 PM EDT (1816 GMT) ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- After almost two months at the negotiating table, the workers who play characters such as Mickey Mouse and Cinderella at Walt Disney World have won an important concession: clean undergarments. Under a tentative contract between Disney and the Teamsters union, the workers will be assigned individual undergarments, which they can take home each night to clean themselves instead of relying on Disney launderers. Some workers had complained about getting pubic lice and scabies. "Things have been passed around," said Gary Steverson, a stilt walker at Animal Kingdom. "I know I don't want to share my tights and I don't want to share my underwear." Many of the characters have to wear Disney-issued athletic supporters, tights or bike shorts underneath their costumes because regular underwear bunches up and is noticeable. Each night, they turn in the undergarments with the rest of their costume before going home. They then pick up a different set the next day. Disney officials had told the workers that they used hot water to clean the undergarments, but they apparently were not doing so, said Steverson, a shop steward with the Teamsters, which represents workers who portray such figures as Goofy, Pluto, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck. Some workers complained about receiving undergarments that were stained or smelly. Steverson said there have been three cases of costumed workers at the Magic Kingdom getting pubic lice or scabies during the past two years. Disney spokeswoman Rena Callahan refused to comment on the new contract provisions because "we don't conduct our negotiations with the media, only at the negotiating table." Other concessions the costumed characters won include more time to put on their costumes and a weather clause that includes air pollution as a factor in determining how long costumed characters have to be outside. I don't see how they ever persuaded employees to wear community underwear. Heck, I wouldn't wear my best friend's underwear even after dousing it with bleach, dry-cleaning it, and putting it through the wash 6 times. Scabies and pubic lice? Yuck! ------------------ A few years back on the Senate floor... Phil Gramm: "If Democrats could, they'd tax the air we breathe." Ted Kennedy (jumping up): "By God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
The sad part is that ACTUALLY became a legal issue. Disney should have simply said OK!! I mean hell i think some companies make you have to buy the uniform . . . If I were disney that is what I would have done 1. Saves you the cost of cleaning the d*mn things 2. Stops spread of disease 3. once they left the company they still advertise for you ;-) Rocket River Disney was just stupid on this one ------------------
