Disneyland Staff to Vote Again on Same Contract : Labor: Workers are being asked to make choice in person after union officials link misinformation to rejection in mail balloting.

Disneyland workers in five unions are scheduled to vote again Monday on the same contract offer they rejected 10 days ago.

After the workers defeated the previous contract proposal in a mail balloting, union officials said they will ask members to show up in person at one local’s headquarters in Buena Park, where shop stewards and other leaders will be available to clarify any worker concerns.

The company’s previous offer, which was recommended by union leaders, was rejected by a vote of 848-805. The proposal included a 3% pay raise for each of the next three years.

But union officials say a considerable amount of misinformation about the contract spread among the 3,000 workers represented by the five unions. Many workers, for example, erroneously believed that the contract included reductions in medical benefits and changes in promotion policies sought by Disney. The company, however, had withdrawn the proposals.

Union officials did say that under the proposed contract, new employees covered by the contract will not be eligible for health and welfare benefits upon retirement.

After meeting with Disney officials for two hours Friday, union representatives decided to resubmit the previous contract proposal without changes. Officials on both sides said they are optimistic the workers will approve the contract on a second vote.

“We were encouraged by the last vote, because of the close margin,” said Tom Brocato, a Disneyland spokesman. “We anticipate that they will ratify the agreement.”

Some workers also may have rejected the previous proposal in hopes of winning a larger pay raise in light of the park’s record attendance this year, said Mort Baum, a negotiator with the United Food and Commercial Union in Buena Park.

“Maybe the workers believed Disney would come back with a better offer,” he said. “I felt it was a little naive of some people.”

Baum’s union, the Teamsters, the Service Employees International, the Hotel and Restaurant Employees and the Bakery and Confection Workers represent about a third of all Disneyland workers, including ride operators, store clerks, janitors and ticket takers.

Workers will vote on the contract from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at United Food’s headquarters in Buena Park.

Three years ago, workers also narrowly rejected a contract but within days took a second vote and approved the same offer.