Following their announcement of a strike vote over labor disputes, UNITE HERE Local 737 has posted a story claiming one of the Patina Group union organizers was pushed by a manager while inside an EPCOT restaurant.
Patina Group Conflict
Employees of Patina Group first unionized last year, specifically mentioning “second-class working conditions.” Patina Group is a subsidiary of Delaware North, which owns and operates multiple Walt Disney World restaurant locations. Specifically in the Italy pavilion, the group operates Tutto Italia Ristorante, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, and Via Napoli Ristorante E Pizzeria. Other Patina Group locations across Walt Disney World include Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, The Edison, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Enzo’s Hideaway, and Space 220.
Earlier this year, the union circulated a petition calling on Patina to reinstate an employee who was fired after reporting sexual harassment by her supervisor.
In July of 2025, the members of UNITE HERE Local 737 filed a formal complaint to The Walt Disney Company against Patina Group. The complaint claimed Patina Group violated Disney’s Supply Chain Code of Conduct, specifically mentioning the possible violations as compliance with applicable laws, sexual harassment and abuse, as well as freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Patina Group Union Strike Vote
As WDWNT first reported on August 26, Patina Group restaurant workers from the Italy pavilion in EPCOT announced a strike vote, citing a failure in contract negotiations. The current union contract for the three Italy pavilion restaurants expires on September 30. The strike vote would authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike at any time after the contract expires.
Should the strike actually proceed, it would be the first time ever that employees have gone on strike inside a Walt Disney World theme park.
Reports of Union Organizer Getting Pushed
In a more recent update to this developing conflict, UNITE HERE Local 737 has shared a story of a union organizer reportedly getting pushed by a manager. The story was shared in a media release from the union, and later published online via Instagram.
According to the post:
Days after workers and their union announced a strike vote, a Patina Group manager physically pushed a union organizer who was performing his legally protected representational job duties at a restaurant inside Disney’s EPCOT Theme Park.
Per the report, the incident has been referred to Disney security, as it took place at Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy pavilion.
The union organizer in question was Wesny Theophin, who also shared a brief statement regarding the incident. Theophin was born and raised in Haiti.
It is so important for me that the Haitian workers in this kitchen are respected at work. That is part of why I am a union organizer. So to be treated this way, and to have a white manager lay a hand on me, is a slap in the face – not just for me, but for all the other Haitian people in the restaurant who deserve to be treated with respect.
Wesney Theophin via UNITE HERE Local 737
There has been no follow-up statement from Patina Group or Disney so far regarding the reported incident.
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