Fourteen thousand Disneyland Resort Cast Members will be voting over the coming days on whether or not to authorize a strike.
Disneyland Cast Members to Vote on Strike Authorization
A strike authorization vote has been scheduled, and results are expected to be announced on July 20.
According to a report from Deadline, “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.”
Union representatives claim that Disney has refused to cooperate with them, alleging that Disney has engaged in unfair labor practices, unlawful disciplinary action, intimidation tactics, and surveillance of union members who wore union buttons while at work.
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.
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.
Statement from Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
Workers 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. The contract for these Cast Members expired on June 16, while the contract for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney District Cast Members will expire on September 30.
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 autohrize a strike after our contract expired. With this strike authorization vote, we will ensure Disney hears Disneyland’s Cast Members’ voices.
Statement from Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee
Back in May 2024, a group representing over 1,700 Disneyland character, show, and parade performers, known as “Magic United,” voted to unionize with Actors’ Equity. Since then, there have been multiple entertainment cuts across the resort, which Disney has said are not related to the unionization. The proposed strike will not include these workers.
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