In August 1941, Walt described his feelings about the strike that had crippled his Studio for many months, and that was on the verge of being settled. He said “The lies, …half truths that were placed in the public press cannot be easily forgotten. I was called a rat, a yellow-dog employer, and an exploiter of labor. They took the salaries of my messenger boys and claimed them to be the salaries of my artists.” This devastating event came about, ironically, as a result of the Studio’s recent success, and the triumph of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
The Studio had gained success, and a lot of new employees. Instead of buying or renting an existing studio, or expanding the current one, Walt decided to build new. A site costing $100,000 was purchased on Buena Vista Street in Burbank, and he planned to build a studio in which his staff could enjoy conditions that would be envied by all in the industry. The light, airy, college-campus style of the new facility would be set among wide lawns. There was to be a theater, a commissary, and recreational facilities, and everything was designed for comfort and efficiency. The changes, which should have been seen as the beginning of an era, were so great that they were viewed by many as the end of an era. The atmosphere at the old studio was remarkable, although cramped, encouraged a shared sense of camaraderie and freedom of expression. In the new Studio, the staff found themselves segregated into units, which left many artists feeling cut off from eachother. The feeling was made worse with the new, huge manual entitled “Responsibilities for Inter-Studio Creative and Managerial Operations, which was filled with formal job descriptions. Artists felt as though they were in a creative vacuum, and were isolated from fellow artists, and from Walt himself.
Dissatisfaction grew, and Walt criticized those who complained (he was confused and angry) stating that he had “no sympathy or patience with those who have to be pushed and guided all the time.” Disney was not sympathetic to the union cause, which was not surprising since he was a self made man who succeeded with hard work and self sacrifice. He had never been guaranteed a minimum wage, and he never had anyone else to fight for his rights, besides himself. Walt demonstrated a genuine concern to have good relations with his employees though. Walt was regarded by some as being very liberal with his employees, and almost paternal. He established a savings and loan plan, where anyone could get a loan at a very low interest rate, and a generous bonus system. He gave paid vacations, and presented stock to deserving employees. Walt, in 1940, distributed 20% of the shares that were reserved for Roy and himself among the Studio staff. To Walt, there was a world of difference between something given, and something demanded.
I would like to add, before closing out this part of the story, that the Walt Disney Company is still quite generous with its employees, I would imagine in an effort to carry on Walt’s legacy, and his nearly obsessive desire to treat the employees of his company as part of a large family.