In an overwhelming
show of unity, more than 14,000 Disneyland
Resort employees voted to authorize a strike amid ongoing contract
negotiations with Disney, pointing to unfair labor practices. The move comes
months into the bargaining process, which began on April 24. The cast members
in question include custodians, candy makers, retail clerks and ride operators.
Four unions
representing these workers revealed the strike authorization late Friday, with
a staggering 99 percent of voting members supporting the potential walkout.
Despite this, the authorization does not necessarily mean a strike is immediately
imminent, as an agreement could still be reached in the meetings that are
scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. If cast members do strike, it will be the
first such instance in 40 years.
“This vote shows
that the Cast Members have had enough!” Aaron Zarate, who works as a candy
maker at Disneyland park and is part of the workers’ bargaining committee, told
NBC
News in a statement. The unions have highlighted severe economic hardships
faced by their members, such as food and housing insecurity, as primary reasons
for their demands.
Jessica Good, a
spokesperson for Disneyland Resort downplayed the significance of the strike
authorization, calling it “not unusual” as part of the bargaining process. "We
greatly appreciate the important roles our cast members play in creating
memorable experiences for our guests, and we remain committed to reaching an
agreement that focuses on what matters most to them while positioning
Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation," she affirmed.
At the center of
the labor dispute are those that work in janitorial, confectionary, retail and attractions
at the Orange County resort and theme park complex, which is so central to
Southern California’s tourism sector. The unions began contract negotiations on
April 24 and, by June 10, they had filed unfair labor practice charges against
Disney, which involved more than 675 workers are now under investigation by the
National Labor Relations Board.
Before the vote,
the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a statement, “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.” It added, “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.”
The economic
struggles faced by Disneyland workers, as well as employees of other major
theme parks around the country, have been well-documented. A 2018 report
by Occidental College and the nonprofit research group Economic Roundtable
found that 74 percent of Disneyland workers were unable to cover their basic
monthly expenses, with many experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and
other hardships.
The unions’
internal surveys conducted earlier this year indicate that these issues
persist, with 28 percent of Disneyland employees reporting food insecurity, 33
percent reporting housing insecurity in the past year and 42 percent reporting
the need to call out of work to receive medical treatment due to inadequate
sick leave. When announcing the strike authorization, the unions revealed that
64 percent of Disneyland cast members must put over half their monthly
paychecks towards rent.
The four unions
involved in this labor action are 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 (UFCW) Local 324.
The last time
Disneyland employees actually went on strike was in September 1984, at which
time nearly 2,000 cast members abstained from work for 22 days. With the labor
contract for Disneyland park cast members having expired on June 16, and the contract
for Disney California Adventure and Downtown
Disney workers expiring September 30, the unions have made it clear that
their members are prepared to strike if necessary. Still, the Disney Workers
Rising Bargaining Committee said that it’s committed to negotiation sessions on
Monday and Tuesday in hopes of reaching a fair agreement.
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