Disneyland Resort Cast Members who are part of the Disney Workers Rising union organization and community members took to the streets to host a rally for a fair contract on the resort’s 69th anniversary.
Disney Workers Rising Rally
The rally was held on July 17 from 4-6 p.m., with union and community members gathering together on Harbor Boulevard and Disney Way.
The goal of the event was to demonstrate to Disney that the “all these years of magic have been made possible due to [Cast Members’] hard work,” according to a Disney Workers Rising Instagram post.
While we were there, Disneyland Resort closed its pick-up and drop-off lot, nearby to where the rally was taking place. Anaheim Police blocked off the area with A-frame signs, and told guests looking to be picked up by Uber or other rideshare services to walk to the nearby McDonald’s for pickup.
Participants in the rally completely filled Harbour Boulevard between Disney Way and the shuttle drop-off location, yelling chants such as “Hey hey, ho ho, corporate greed has got to go” while carrying imaginative signs.
The group eventually made their way into the closed drop-off area. By 4:45 p.m. PT, the entire bus plaza was shut down. Security Cast Members did their best to re-route guests around the rally.
We spotted a sign that read “Bring Back Fair Wages and the Peoplemover;” the attraction closed at Disneyland Park on August 21, 1995. We also heard a Disneyland Monorail honk in support of those gathering.
Union members at the rally were passing out the above flyers to community members in the area. The flyer is written in English on one side and Spanish on the other. It says:
Support Disney Cast Members!
We are over 13,000 Disney Cast Members who come to work every day to bring your family a magical experience. We are protesting Disney’s unfair labor practices and fighting for a fair contract that respects the work we do and provides us with the waes and benefits we need to raise our families.
We love Disney and being a part of your special memories, so that’s why we rae calling on Disney to put guests and Cast Members first!
Stand with us to improve our parks.
Sign the petition here
Cast Members Deserve:
Fair Wages
Seniority Increases
Fair Attendance Policy
Safe Parks
Take a picture wearing your button and post it on social media with the hashtag #ISupportDisneyCastMembers
The QR code included on the flyer takes you to the Disney Workers Rising petition.
Unions representing 14,000 Cast Members at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney District, and the Disneyland Resort hotels entered into negotiations with the company on April 24, asking for fair wages, a fair attendance policy, seniority increases, and safe parks for Cast Members and guests.
Union representatives have previously claimed that Disney has refused to cooperate, alleging that the company has engaged in unfair labor practices, unlawful disciplinary action, intimidation tactics, and surveillance of union members who wore union buttons while working.
Most recently, Disney Workers Rising announced that a strike authorization vote was scheduled, with results expected to be announced on July 20. Unions involved in the vote 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 (UCFW) Local 324.
Those interested in staying informed on the happenings with Disney Workers Rising can follow the group on Instagram.
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