jzarley Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I apologize if this has already been posted (I looked, but it didn't jump out at me....) There's a pretty lively discussion going on over at Coasterbuzz about this. I found it interesting... http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...1030436/-1/NEWS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Yea I read this over a Coasterbuzz yesterday and now going back to Kings Island to work is not looking like a good option for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightoffear1996 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 What are the reason that tehy are exempt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I don't know the reason, but I am sure Cedar Fair was actively lobbying to be part of the exemption. It also helps your cause when you have become such a large employer and tourist generator within a state. I think this shows the power of a monopoly in an industry. Without a doubt, CF has a monopoly on the amusement park industry in Ohio now and its minimum wage employees are feeling that impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jzarley Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 ^ Yeah, I'd certainly agree that there was a lobbying effort by someone on behalf of the amusement (and other exempted) industry. However, what I wondered was what percentage of KI/CP/GL workers are actually making minimum wage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 not many, I heard that PKI pays 9 dollars an hour! Can anyone support this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 PKI pays this in some of the higher up jobs but the rides associates make considerably less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye-Beast Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 On the news the other day I heard them say there were going to be exclusions for employees under 16 years of age, (while they showed a roller coaster on screen). They made no mention of amusement park workers in general. now I'm curious if the media just screwed up the facts once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I started at KI in 1999 as a ride op making $5.50 an hour, put had an end of season bonus of .50 cents per hour worked. Between the 99 and 00 seasons the pay rates were changed quite a bit. New hires in rides got started out at $6.50 an hour, and returners made $7.00 an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Maybe to the parks area managers but as far as regular associates in rides and their supervisors, no. Paramount parks paid a considerable more amount to their employees then Cedar Fair did last year. Cedar Fair also has all kinds of screwy contracts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 If anything this will hurt the parks. One thing that's a real building block of a great park is a quality crew. If they're offering less than minimum wage, then their turnover is going to be amazing. I'm sure people will want to work there just becuase it's KI, but the novelty will wear off quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I know when i began my second season, summer 2006, I didn't get the returners amount of $7.00. I only assumed that was because Winterfest tanked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 the novelty will wear off quickly. that it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Tycoon, I am actually looking to work at PKI this summer, either as an actual employee or as an intern, I heard that the ride ops make the traditional 6.50 an hour plus dollar per hour worked, but that the merchandising associates and most of the positions where you have to be at least 18 yo, that of which I am, pay the nine dollars is that true??? and if not, do you know what the actuall breakdown is? P.S. were you ride op tycoon? or something else, and how old are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I don't know much about merchandising as ive never worked in that dept. but my first year i started out in ride opps at $6.50 just like every other new hire. My second season i only got a .25 cent pay increase. when i started working there i was only 16 and since i have a late birthday i was only 17 my second season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Well times have changed I guess. If KI doesn't at least pay $6.85 an hour for new hires, I forsee them having trouble finding workers. We are (Target) is now starting people out at $7.00 an hour, where in the past was only $6.00 an hour. Why work at KI or any other park in Ohio when you could be making more else where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 well, that is the thing, if it is nine for one of the positions that I have looked into then I will travel to PKI everyday during the summer, if not I can make more directly where I live, so I guess we shall see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Yeah, I live about 40 minutes away and I was carpooling with some friends, but they have since quit working at PKI. Needless to say it was getting a little bit expensive to drive the 40 minutes on a $6.75/hour wage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 That true. I live 51 miles or 1 hr away, but I did enjoy my Job at Kings Island. The experience was good, and the people you meet are great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Where are you from Tycoon, I have nearly the same drive time, I live in Miamisburg, Ohio about 15-20 minutes south of downtown Dayton. See I go there to ride nearly every day during the summer, so I might as well get paid, get the pass, and go on the days off. I would either make some or break even which is better than the current scenario, I was relying on the umpiring money for gas money, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I'm from Harrison, Ohio. I live about a block away from Indiana. I'll admit I loved working at Kings Island. If you are willing to make the drive to PKI go for it. It's an awesome work environment. PS. I may sound a little biased here but if you apply for rides, go for The Beast. That was definitly my favorite ride to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I have said this since the Cedar Fair acquisition and I reiterate it again. Look for a large amount of international help at the park in the coming years. Cedar Point is a good example of this. For Cedar Fair to do this effectively, they will have to have housing close to the park. So, look for that too. Hopefully, they will not do what Six Flags has done at Great Adventure. Just down and to the right of the Nitro lift hill, you can see a village of mobile homes where international employees are housed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 You're right about that one Interpreter. I remember seeing a bunch of International workers when I was at Cedar Point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KI-ORIG-EMP Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 One of the higher paid positions are the pan and broomers that start at $8/hour and rest room cleaners making more. The admissions area pays $6.45/hour for a returner. In the 90's, we were paid a $0.50 per hour bonus at the end of the season and that made it kind of nice. Wait and see what it will be this year. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 So Interp, why is it that SFOG uses no Internationals? Is it based on the availability of labor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 That would be my guess. I, too, have seen very few internationals at Six Flags Over Georgia (or at Kentucky Kingdom, for that matter). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 well its not likely that Kings Island will just release what their pay scale will be for certain positions so how do you find that out? It would be good to know before applying, that way you dont have to get in that mess if it isnt gonna work out in the first place. Plus you can apply to jobs on their site currently, but are they even actually hiring people currently, or should I wait till one of the job fairs in Feb or March? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Really the only thing you can do is go by word of mouth on the pay scale. Just be willing to start out at $6.50 your first year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Thats probably the best route, but I think I may just forgo the benefits in favor of getting on in an internship to help me towards my business major, I know that they do pay fairly decent but they are hard to get. Thanks for all the help everyone! oh uh Tycoon you said you have a late birthday, im curious is your birthday July 1st 1988? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Well, I can tell you that I learned more of value as a Supervisor with KECO than I did in any college courses. For that matter I learned far more life skills at Kings Island, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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