Story Leaves Wrong Impressions of Prestige, Importance of Jobs

In the article, “Union Members Reject Contract at Disneyland” (Sept. 17), custodial work is characterized as “less prestigious” and ride operators’ work as “elite.”

Every cast member at Disneyland has the same role: to create happiness for our guests. No role is more or less important than another.

But by carelessly framing custodial work as less prestigious, the writers contribute to the false image that custodial work is demeaning. How can this be fair or accurate reporting?

The last contract offered was not worded so that flexibility would assign “elite” positions to do “less prestigious” work.

I almost wish it were so that the attractions host who was quoted would be assigned to custodial so he/she would have more respect for the work custodians do--and also find out that their work is not much different.

What is so elite about pushing buttons all day, or asking guests “How many in your party, please?” or dressing for Halloween 365 days a year? If cast members covered by the Master Services Agreement make about the same rate anyway, how can one be better than the other?

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the Heavens and Earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

So please, be more careful in the future on how you characterize a person’s job or career. We have a lot of great people working in the custodial department. Many have been working in the department for 10, 20, and even 30 years. If you met these wonderful people, you would choose your words more cautiously and not call their jobs less prestigious.

PAUL E. VILLA, Brea