What are they thinking ?!

^ Have you tried getting a job in this economy, good luck buddy. I'm already sitting on a job with Cedar Point. Why would I give it up if I cant find anything else. I currently work with fast food, there are literally 100 applications just sitting there and our sales are down 20% in the past 6 months. It's obvious that we will not be hiring anytime soon. The same is true with a lot of Labor jobs. This fast food job is my between seasons job and i live check to check. So yea I would say that I'm forced to work there if there is nothing else. I have to pay for college, food, pay bills. I don't have a career like some of you do here.

Unskilled?

I would think that you should have good people skills and have half a brain to run some of the rides in the park. Are you just going to put "unskilled" people in charge of million of lifes a year?

Disney diden't get where they are by employing "unskilled" workers.

Workes at cp go thrue some pretty good training and are very "skilled" at there jobs(well most are).

I am not saying that they should get full benifits, but they should get a fair and decent wage.

You obviously don't understand what unskilled labor is.

Unskilled labor means it doesn't require any additional schooling, heck, what you do doesn't even require a high school diploma. Anyone can be taught how to do it. Do some skills (patience, attention to detail) make it easier to do? Sure, but it doesn't require a 4 year degree or really any level of intelligence beyond a pulse.

CPFan - you do NOT have to work at Cedar Point. You can stay at your current job. You can go unemployed. You can go stand in front of Home Depot and do day labor.

The options are out there, you just have to look for them.

crazy horse said:
Unskilled?

To be honest yes. I don't want to change the whole subject of this thread but I want to add that it does not take much to learn how to operate a ride. I don't know why so many people think that it takes 3 brains but these rides for the most part are easy to run. It takes more skill to drive a car then to operate a ride. I have operated many rides, helped write operating manuals, train people, etc. and its not hard. When I was trained how to run MF controls, it took all of 5 minutes. After that, I was on my own. So yes, unskilled people is correct.

CPFan10186 said:
So yea I would say that I'm forced to work there if there is nothing else.

Read what Jugga just said. And to add to what he said, you can work at other amusement parks that have better housing and even pay better! Imagine that? So you do not HAVE to work at Cedar Point. There are better options out there if you take the time to look.

JuggaLotus said:
You obviously don't understand what unskilled labor is.

Unskilled labor means it doesn't require any additional schooling, heck, what you do doesn't even require a high school diploma. Anyone can be taught how to do it. Do some skills (patience, attention to detail) make it easier to do? Sure, but it doesn't require a 4 year degree or really any level of intelligence beyond a pulse.

CPFan - you do NOT have to work at Cedar Point. You can stay at your current job. You can go unemployed. You can go stand in front of Home Depot and do day labor.

The options are out there, you just have to look for them.

I get 20 hours tops at my current job, that barely gets me by. I can quadruple my pay check by working at Cedar Point. Yes I DO have to work there, unless I can find another job I can bring in around $700/ check in. My other job will be waiting for me at the end of the season so there is no harm leaving for more money then coming back. You don't know what I need, you are not me. Why should you be the one who tell me what I need. Jugga, I know you personally and you are beginning to tick me off. I just want to be assured the I will recieve my LEGAL wage when it comes to signing my contract.

Here you go, another job that could pay more and has housing.

http://www.valleyfair.com/public/jobs/index.cfm

That way you get your LEGAL wage.

I live in Sandusky, I'm not giving up free room and board to go work and live in substandard housing. Again, you are not me.... I want to be assured I get a LEGAL wage... this isn't about "Oh you could always go somewhere else" because I know I could try and find something. The problem is they are offering a wage that is below minimum. If I have a job lined up shouldn't I be entitled to what the state says I should at least be earning?

So its fine for companies to break labor laws now... You don't want the people who run the park you all love to get a fair legal wage? Seriously everyones logic is messed up.

I am sure cedar fair has lawyers that have made sure the wages they are paying are legal. Unfortunalty in this economy people are taking what they can get, for example there was this article today about a khol's store opening.http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/01/15/job.mob/index.html?ir...yview

Times are tough for some of us, and some people are doing what they can to try and make a living.

^^I'll say it again as many others have said, as of now they have not broke any laws. Not to mention that we don't know if maybe CP found a loophole? What if its not illegal? Who are we to say what they are doing is illegal, might be wrong but hey, its not our money and anyone that needs a job can get one somewhere else. Especially if you live in Sandusky because the new Aldis is hiring, the new Menard's is hiring (a lot), and I know Target needs people right now too.

But if its Cedar Point you want to work at, get a job that pays above the normal flat rate. Those jobs are at Cedar Point, you just have to ask about them.

What do you call the act of killing a thousand lawyers? - A GOOD START...

The lawyers retained/employed by CP have one thing in mind - defending the interests of the company, and thus I'm quite sure although they may have a plan - minimum wage will become a sticking issue they can't get around.

Time will tell.

My uncle works at ford and presses a button every 30 seconds all day. He has been doing the same thing for 5 years now. No special training...no special classes. Just sits there and presses a button. Has weekends off, works 40 hours a week and has full health coverage.

And he makes $18 an hour.

Does that make him more skilled than a coaster operator?

Crazy horse.... WHere do I get an application lmao.

All the employees want is a fair wage. What is so bad about that? The park is not exempt from paying minimum wage and the state is looking into the matter.

99er, just to make this point 150% clear to you and everyone else who thinks there is the possibility of Cedar Point finding a loophole to pay less than the OH minimum of $7.30/hour, it does not exist. They must pay the minimum of $7.30 per hour. That is the reply that I got from one Ms. Jackson at the Commerce Department, with an @com.state.oh.us. That is the definitive answer straight from the state agency that is qualified to give a definitive answer on this matter. There exists no loophole for CP to take advantage of, they MUST pay the state minimum of $7.30/hr, because the higher wage rate always applies.

Once again, a reply was received from an agent of the Ohio Commerce Dept. to me that said this; "Cedar Point must pay minimum wage of $7.30 per hour." In large, blue font to boot. That should put to rest the idea of a loophole or way to get out of the minimum wage.

Edit: Removed her first name for privacy reasons

I know right! That's all we are asking for. Why there has to be such a complex argument is beyond me.

They just want to feel important and smart. They are just asses. Nonemployees don't understand these things.

Hey Blue - Please forward that on to park administration - the sooner you raise the stink, the sooner they will fix it and flush the issue. Plus it will make more room for topics like "where is the Lemon Chill guy" on here.

UpsideDown said:
There is no exemption in Federal Law covering Seasonal Amusement Park workers, the federal exemptions cover workers in public safety, summer camps, interns in the legislature things like that, but not seasonal amusement parks.

Yeah, you may want to read the law again. Or maybe for the first time.

Minimum wage and who is covered

Here's an excerpt:

The following are examples of employees exempt from both the minimum wage and overtime pay requirements:

• Employees of certain seasonal amusement or recreational establishments

^That's the federal law. Ohio's law trumps it because the wage is higher and the exemption isn't there. This was discussed a while ago if you missed it. But you are right Loopy if its in conjuction with the quote... ;)

Wow number2, way to start out with quality posts! You sir, are high class.

CPFan10186 said:Why there has to be such a complex argument is beyond me.

I don't think there was any complex argument here. Rather some people that want to know if there was some way around the law. Often large companies can and do find ways around laws. All I was asking is if that could be the case here. A couple of teenagers telling me "NO" is not enough to convince me. Why should I take your word for it? What BlueStreak64 posted up there is alright for me now. But if this is so illegal, why is the park being so blatant about it? Why risk a lot for something like this? That is what leads me to think that they might have found a way around it. Don't jump down my throat because I don't believe every word you type.