All is not well in the mouse house.
Disney’s largest labor union in California — representing everyone from janitors and attraction operators to candy makers and vendors — announced today that a strike authorization vote is planned for Disneyland cast members. Results are expected to be announced by July 20, once the votes are counted and cast members are notified by the unions.
Unions representing 14,000 employees at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and Disney Resort hotels began negotiations with the company on April 24 to demand what they say are fair wages, a fair attendance policy, seniority raises and safe parks for employees and guests.
Disneyland officials said in a statement that “ongoing discussions have taken place over the past several months. The Disneyland Park Master Services Council’s formal contract expired on June 16, and the Master Services Council declined to enter into a contract extension.”
In May, Disney cast members filed a lawsuit against Disney on behalf of 14,000 resort workers alleging unfair labor practices, illegal discipline, intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union badges at work. The allegations involve more than 675 cast members and are currently under investigation by the National Labor Relations Board.
“Our goal in negotiations has always been to reach an agreement with Disney that provides cast members with the wages they need to live in Southern California, the respect they deserve for their years of service to the company, and an attendance policy that works for everyone while ensuring the safety of park guests,” reads a statement from the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee.
“But instead of working with us to obtain a fair contract, Disney has engaged in multiple behaviors that we consider to be unfair labor practices, including unlawful discipline, intimidation, and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union badges at work. We know that these actions are simply an attempt to prevent us from exercising our rights and impose a contract that perpetuates the status quo at Disney.”
Disney officials said the two sides would meet shortly after the results of the strike authorization vote are announced.
“With the next meeting scheduled for July 22,” their statement read, “we remain committed to continuing discussions and reaching an agreement with the Master Services Council that focuses on what matters most to our current members, helps us attract new players, and positions Disneyland Resort for growth and more jobs.”
Affected workers include Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Local 83, Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), Teamsters Local 495 and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324.
The group does not include troupe members who play characters or dance in parades, nor the entertainers, leads and coaches who work alongside them. Those workers voted in May to unionize with the Actors’ Equity Association.
Disney has big plans for Walt’s original park.
On May 8, the Anaheim City Council gave final approval to DisneylandForward, a $1.9 billion, multi-decade expansion plan that would see theme park attractions next to hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive, and new shopping, dining and entertainment to the southeast, in what is now the Toy Story parking lot, at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. All of these plans would include workers like the 14,000 who will now vote on whether to authorize a strike.
The Disney Workers Bargaining Committee added: “We will not accept less than we deserve because we know our value to Disney. Theme park profits come from our hard work to make a trip to Disneyland a magical experience for Guests. By undermining our rights, Disney has only made it harder for us to fight to help our Guests and keep our parks safe, which is why we are forced to vote next week on whether or not to authorize a strike after our contract expires. With this strike authorization vote, we will ensure that Disney hears the voices of Disneyland Cast Members.”
Disney needs the DisneylandForward project because, while its Parks and Experiences unit continues to generate cash, most of the exceptional 10% revenue growth the unit saw in the second quarter of this year came from its overseas properties.
Disneyland, despite rising attendance and per capita spending, saw its results fall year over year because of higher costs, including labor, Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said on a second-quarter earnings call.
Park workers say they haven’t seen much of the windfall. According to a survey shared by unions before the strike authorization vote, 73 percent of the troupe members who make the profits possible say “they don’t make enough money to cover basic expenses each month.”
A separate survey of cast members earlier this year found that:
- Nearly three in ten cast members (28%) report experiencing food insecurity
- 64% of cast members are “rent burdened” or spending more than half of their monthly salary on rent
- 33% of cast members have experienced housing insecurity in the past year
- 42% of cast members had to take time off work for medical care because they didn’t have enough sick leave
In terms of pay, Disneyland’s job site says starting rates “range from $19.90 to $24.15, with many qualified positions exceeding a starting rate of $25 per hour.” Meanwhile, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Anaheim is $2,000, according to Apartments.com.
The contracts of the cast members in question expired on June 16. The contracts of the cast members of Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney expire on September 30.