All is not well in the Mouse’s house.
The largest bargaining unit of Disney workers in California – representing everyone from custodians and ride operators to candy makers and merchandise clerks – today announced that a strike authorization vote is scheduled for Disneyland cast members. The results are expected to be announced by July 20, after votes are tallied and the Unions have notified cast members.
Unions representing 14,000 cast members at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels entered into negotiations with the company on April 24 asking for what they say are fair wages, a fair attendance policy, seniority increases and safe parks for cast members and guests.
In May, Disney cast members filed unfair labor practice charges against Disney on behalf of 14,000 workers at the resort for unlawful discipline, intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work. The charges relate to over 675 cast members and are currently being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.
“Our goal for negotiations has always been to reach an agreement with Disney — one that provides cast members with wages they need to live in Southern California, the respect they deserve for the years they’ve dedicated to the company and an attendance policy that works for everyone while keeping park guests safe,” reads a statement from the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee.
“But instead of working with us toward a fair contract, Disney has engaged in multiple instances of conduct we allege are unfair labor practices, including unlawful discipline and intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work. We know these actions are only an attempt to stop us from exercising our rights and saddle us with a contract that perpetuates the status quo at Disney.”
Workers involved include the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83, the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), the Teamsters Local 495 and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324.
The group does not include the cast members who perform as characters or dance in the parades and the hosts, leads, and trainers who work alongside them. Those workers voted to unionize with the Actors’ Equity Association in May.
Disney has big plans for Walt’s original park.
On May 8, the Anaheim City Council gave final approval to DisneylandForward, the $1.9 billion, Disney’s multi-decade expansion plan. It allows theme park attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive as well as new shopping, dining and entertainment to the southeast on what is today the Toy Story Parking Area at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. All of those plans would include workers like the 14,000 who will now be voting on a strike authorization.
The Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee added the following: “We won’t accept less than what we deserve because we know our value to Disney. The theme parks’ profits come from our hard work making a trip to Disneyland a magical experience for guests. By undermining our rights, Disney has only made harder our fight to help our guests and keep our parks safe, which is why we are compelled to take a vote next week on whether to authorize a strike after our contract expired. With this strike authorization vote, we will ensure Disney hears Disneyland’s cast members’ voices.”
Disney needs the DisneylandForward project because, while its Parks and Experiences unit continues to throw off cash, most of the outstanding 10% revenue growth the unit saw in Q2 of this year is due to its overseas properties.
Disneyland, despite growing attendance and per capita spend, saw results dip year-on-year on higher costs, including labor, CFO Hugh Johnston said on a Q2 earnings call.
Park employees say they haven’t seen much of that bounty. According to a survey shared by the unions before the strike authorization vote, 73% of the cast members that make those profits possible report “they do not earn enough money to cover basic expenses each month.”
A separate survey of cast members earlier this year found that:
- Nearly three in 10 cast members (28%) report experiencing food insecurity
- 64% of cast members are “rent burdened” or spending more than half of their monthly paychecks on rent
- 33% of cast members experienced housing insecurity in the past year
- 42% of cast members had to miss work for medical treatment because they didn’t have enough sick leave
The contract for the cast members in question expired on June 16. The contract for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney cast members expires September 30.
