Thursday, November 19, 1998
Eisner receives award amid controversy
UNION: Protesters call Disney CEO ‘hypocrite’ for delaying
negotiations
By Brian Fishman
Daily Bruin Contributor
Helicopters circled overhead and car horns blared their support
for crimson-clad union members protesting in the heart of Beverly
Hills Tuesday evening.
Inside the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel, The Anderson School at
UCLA was presenting Disney’s Michael Eisner with their Exemplary
Leadership in Management Award (ELMA).
While the scene inside was full of congratulations, outside,
members of NABET-CWA Local 57 were denouncing Eisner as hypocrite
who does not negotiate in good faith.
The National Association of Broadcasting Engineering and
Technical employees (NABET), an affiliate of the Communication
Workers of America (CWA), was picketing because of a dispute
stemming from Disney’s takeover of Capital Cities/ABC.
Prior to the takeover, NABET-CWA members worked mainly for ABC.
When Disney took control, the workers began contract negotiations
with Disney. Negotiations stalled over Disney’s "Signature" health
plan.
Disney would not allow the union to read the plan’s provisions,
said Elaine Hogue, a NABET-CWA member.
"Who would sign a health plan they haven’t read? It’s a blank
check," said Suzanne Albert, a technical director for KABC.
To protest, NABET-CWA held a 24-hour strike Nov. 2. Since then,
they have been "locked-out" of their jobs by ABC and, by
association, Disney, Hogue said.
NABET-CWA has filed two petitions with the National Labor
Relations Board and had asked the Anderson School to cancel
Tuesday’s event.
Their requests to the Anderson School were not taken
seriously.
"We never considered cancelling the event," said Sue Johnson,
assistant dean of the Anderson School.
"Eisner is deserving; he has grown the company exponentially,"
she continued.
Despite the protesters heckling guests arriving to the hotel,
the program inside went on as planned.
The Anderson School awards the ELMA, its highest honor, to those
corporate leaders who are committed to excellence and demonstrate
the highest standard of ethics and business leadership, according
to the Anderson School’s literature.
According to John Anderson, the school’s namesake, profits have
increased at Disney from $1.5 billion to $17 billion since Eisner
took over.
But corporate profits are not the best measure of what makes a
qualified CEO, said Albert.
"Workers (for Disney are paid) 6 cents an hour in Burma. That
turns into a $21 plastic dalmatian," she said.
Although the union is technically negotiating with ABC,
NABET-CWA members say Eisner is in a position to expedite
negotiations.
"Eisner has mismanaged and locked out his workers. He wants to
cut health care benefits, cut pensions, cut wages and cut jobs,"
said Gena Stinnett, president of NABET-CWA.
While the protesters dissipated, speakers inside joked about
continued economic growth and donations to UCLA.
Chancellor Albert Carnesale, escorted by Joe and Josephine
Bruin, made opening remarks that set the mood for the evening. He
gently prodded the many alumni and dignitaries to open their
checkbooks to UCLA.
"I want to thank you all for what you’ve done for the Anderson
School, and especially for what you are going to do for the
Anderson School," he said.
Eisner’s speech was directed toward the students of the Anderson
School.
"You will be launching your careers in a decade we cannot name,"
Eisner said, referring to the uncertainty of the 21st century.
Eisner also linked creativity with ethical business
practices.
"Ethical shortcuts are nothing more than paths taken by
uncreative minds," Eisner said. "Taking the highroad is a legacy at
the Walt Disney Company."
As an example, he pointed to a Disney program that gives all
employees, from animators to janitors, the opportunity to develop
and present their own ideas for Disney products to corporate
executives.
Nothing could be farther from the truth for the NABET-CWA
members protesting outside. But the blame does not solely rest on
Eisner, Albert said.
The protesters lambasted the Anderson School for conveying this
honor unto Eisner.
Albert said that the award sends a message to Anderson students
that greed is beneficial and that a successful CEO need not care
about his or her workers.
But Johnson insisted that the Board of Visitors, the group of
businessmen who determine the ELMA winner, carefully considered
Eisner.
"They looked for someone who has creatively made his mark," she
said.
Protesters, however, said there were ulterior motives involved
in choosing the ELMA recipient.
"Michael Ovitz gave UCLA $50 million. Hell, if I was UCLA I’d
give his friend an award too," said Tom Klemesrud, a KABC engineer
who is currently locked out.
The NABET-CWA protesters vow to picket at the UCLA-USC game
which will be televised by ABC.
According to Liz Lee, a locked-out post-production audio
engineer, "any place where scab workers are replacing NABET
workers, we’ll protest."
BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin
Michael Eisner, CEO and chairman of the Walt Disney Company, was
honored by the Anderson School at UCLA in the midst of NABET-CWA
demonstrations.
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