Arbitrator Rules Against Patina Group at EPCOT's Italy Pavilion Over Button Dispute

It’s a small win in a much larger ongoing fight for workers’ rights, but Patina Group restaurant workers are free once again to wear union buttons on shift.

Patina Group Workers Free to Wear Union Buttons

Open plaza at EPCOT with Venetian-style buildings and a tall bell tower, evoking Italy Pavilion—not a Disney castle in view.

Back in December, supporters and members of UNITE HERE Local 737 – the union that represents workers from Walt Disney World Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Patina Restaurant Group and other affiliated groups – held a rally and march to demand a good life for Patina Group restaurant workers, including a fair process to organize at nonunion Patina’s restaurants at Disney Springs and a strong new contract at Patina’s unionized restaurants in the EPCOT Italy Pavilion.

These unionized workers from Tutto Italia, Tutto Gusto, and Via Napoli are in the midst of pressing for a contract that improves their lives and futures, including $8 raises over three years, free family health insurance, an improved pension, and a 20% automatic gratuity.

In late February, some union workers at Italy Pavilion restaurants began wearing buttons signifying their membership in the UNITE HERE Local 737 union. The following day, however, these workers were instructed to remove the buttons or else “they would be sent home”.

Union workers restore their UNITE HERE 737 buttons at Italy Pavilion

As revealed today in a press release from the group on social media, a neutral arbitrator involved in the ongoing dispute has ruled that the Patina Group’s demand to remove the buttons violated its workers’ union contract and the National Labor Relations Act. Consequently, workers are free to wear these buttons at their discretion.

As far as the larger dispute goes, the union of Patina Group employees at the Italy Pavilion will be continuing their negotiations on March 25, 2026, as today’s press release disclosed.

Upon hearing of the arbitrator’s decision, Tutto Italia server and union leader Giandomenico Cardellini said,

“Wearing our union button is our fundamental right as workers. Patina Group workers in the Italy Pavilion stick together, so I will proudly put my union button back on!”

The union of Patina Group employees at the Italy Pavilion continues their negotiations for a new union contract. They will return to the bargaining table on March 25, 2026.

You can read the full release through the original post shared via Facebook.

Do you know someone who is involved in the UNITE HERE Local 737 union? We invite you to share your union experiences with us on social media.

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