By Paul Bond

At Disney’s annual shareholder meeting Wednesday, CEO Bob Iger faced off with disappointed “cast members” over health benefits, didn’t dismiss the idea of selling ABC, announced a new ride and rebuked one of the company’s classic animated films.

Calling the movie “antiquated” and “fairly offensive,” Iger said there are no plans for releasing “Song of the South” on DVD...

...But the early part of the Q&A portion of the meeting was dominated by Disneyland Resort hotel workers from California, who are among some of the 2,100 union employees upset about declining health benefits.

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by Sarah Tully

Four Disney hotel workers plan to take their plea for affordable health care directly to top Disney officials at Wednesday’s annual shareholders meeting.

The union members, who have been embroiled in a two-year contract dispute with Disney, are scheduled to go to Disney’s meeting in San Antonio, Texas, where they hope to address the Board of Directors.

The meeting will have a question-and-answer period, when any shareholder can talk, said Jonathan Friedland, a Disney spokesman. Three of the workers are Disney shareholders, said Leigh Shelton, a spokesman for the union, Unite Here Local 11.

Hotel workers have been working without a contract for  more than two years. Last month, 15 union members held hunger strikes in front of Disneyland hotels and at Disney’s Burbank headquarters to draw attention to their stance.

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ANAHEIM – Three bellmen and a housekeeper from the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim will travel to San Antonio this week to attend the Walt Disney Corporation’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, March 10.

For the past two years, Disneyland Resort hotel workers have been without a contract and locked in negotiations over Disney’s attempts to slash worker healthcare. The four hotel workers will bring this struggle to maintain affordable healthcare to Disney decision makers present at the annual meeting. The three bellmen attending the meeting hold shares in the public company.

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ANAHEIM – Disney Hotel Workers broke a nine-day hunger strike on Thursday morning after camping out for seven days on the streets in Anaheim and another two-and-a-half days at Disney corporate headquarters in Burbank.

“By giving up food and remaining at Disney’s doorstep, our 15 fasters have forced Disney to listen,” said Ada Briceno, secretary-treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 11, after a lively, 100-person picket line. “By talking to the press, sharing their stories, and even blogging on our Web site, our fasters have captured the attention of the public, and although I’m not so sure they’d admit it, the Walt Disney Corporation.”

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By Patrick McDonald

Disney workers embroiled in a bitter dispute with management over healthcare rallied Wednesday outside the entertainment giant’s Burbank headquarters. Five employees launched a hunger strike.

“Shame on Disney!” declared Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, who appeared at the rally. “They’re making big profits while trying to deny working people affordable healthcare.”

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