On April 24, 2023, folks walked in the direction of the doorway of Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
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4 unions representing greater than 14,000 staff at Disney theme parks and resorts in Southern California introduced late Friday that members had voted to authorize a strike, citing alleged unfair labor practices throughout contract negotiations.
The union introduced that hundreds of staff at Disneyland, Disney California Journey, the Downtown Disney retail district and Disney-owned motels have approved a strike.
If a strike does happen, it might be the primary at Disneyland in 40 years.
The union mentioned “99 p.c of members voted in favor of authorizing their Disney Staff Rising Bargaining Committee to name for an unfair labor follow strike.” That does not imply a right away strike is underway, however the strike is permitted.
“As a substitute of working with us to enter into a good contract, Disney has engaged in a wide range of labor practices that we imagine are unfair, together with illegal self-discipline, intimidation and surveillance of union members who train their proper to put on a union badge on the job,” the Disney Staff Group mentioned. “The Rising Negotiation Committee mentioned in a press release earlier than the vote.
“We all know these actions are merely an try to stop us from exercising our rights and maintain us from getting into right into a contract that maintains Disney’s established order,” the bargaining committee added.
The union button in query depicts a Mickey Mouse-style white glove with a raised fist.
The Walt Disney Co. didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark early Saturday.
Staff on the middle of the labor battle embody superintendents, trip operators, sweet makers and merchandise clerks on the in style theme park and resort advanced, which is the spine of Southern California’s tourism economic system.
An promoting check in Downtown Disney close to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on April 24, 2023.
Mario Tama | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
The employees – “actors” in firm parlance – entered contract negotiations with the leisure large on April 24. Unfair Labor Apply Expenses.
The allegations contain greater than 675 staff and are presently beneath investigation by the Nationwide Labor Relations Board, an impartial federal company that enforces labor legal guidelines.
“We is not going to settle for lower than we deserve as a result of we all know our price to Disney. Theme park earnings come from our onerous work to make the Disney Parks journey a magical expertise for friends. By compromising our rights, Disney will solely make it harder for us to battle to assist our friends and maintain our parks protected,” the negotiating committee mentioned.
Lately, labor students have drawn public consideration to the financial struggles of staff at Disneyland and different main theme parks throughout the nation.
For instance, in early 2018, researchers from Occidental School and the Financial Roundtable, a nonprofit analysis group, launched a report that discovered 74% of Disneyland workers have been unable to pay their month-to-month base prices. The report surveyed workers who’ve skilled homelessness, meals insecurity and different challenges.
In an inside survey of union members earlier this yr, Twenty-eight p.c of Disneyland forged members reported experiencing meals insecurity within the final yr, 33% reported experiencing housing insecurity, and 42% reported needing to overlook work for medical therapy as a result of they didn’t have sufficient sick go away.
A billboard promoting Disneyland on April 24, 2023 in Commerce, California.
Mario Tama | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
In asserting the strike authorization, the union mentioned 64% of actors spent greater than half of their month-to-month wage on lease.
“Disneyland markets itself as ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ [but] The fact dealing with park workers is primarily considered one of financial hardship,” union staff mentioned in a press release forward of Friday’s vote.
The 4 unions representing staff are Bakeries, Confectioners, Tobacco Staff and Grain Mills (BCTGM) Native 83; Service Staff Worldwide Union-Service Staff West (SEIU-USWW); Teamsters Native 495; and United United Meals and Business Staff (UFCW) Native 324.
Disneyland Solid Members’ contracts expire on June 16.
The final time Disneyland skilled a strike was in September 1984, when practically 2,000 forged members went on strike for 22 days.
Regardless of the strike authorization vote, negotiations will not be but over.
The Disney Staff Rising negotiating committee mentioned it has dedicated to returning to the bargaining desk on Monday and Tuesday.
However the strike authorization permits the bargaining committee to name a strike at any time.
