Four unions representing more than 14,000 employees at Disney theme parks and resorts in Southern California announced Friday that their members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, citing alleged unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.
Thousands of workers at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney shopping district and Disney-owned hotels have voted to strike, unions said.
The authorization does not mean that a strike will happen immediately, and both sides could reach an agreement that would prevent a strike. If a strike does occur, it would be Disneyland’s first in 40 years.
The number of workers who voted was not disclosed, but unions said that of the members who participated, 99% voted to approve the strike.
“They are stuffed”
“This vote shows that team members are fed up!” said Aaron Zarate, a Disneyland pastry chef who is a member of the workers’ bargaining committee.
The unions cited economic hardships for their members, including food and housing insecurity. Negotiations have been ongoing since April 24. Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Jessica Good said a strike authorization is “not unusual” during the bargaining process and noted that talks are still scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. “We greatly value the important role our employees play in creating memorable experiences for our guests and remain committed to reaching an agreement that focuses on what is most important to them while also positioning Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation,” Good said.
The workers at the center of the labor dispute include custodians, ride operators, candle makers and merchandise vendors at the popular theme park and resort complex, a mainstay of Southern California’s tourism economy.
When did the negotiations begin?
Workers began contract negotiations with the entertainment giant on April 24. Nearly two months later, on June 10, Disney employees announced they had filed a lawsuit. lawsuit for unfair labor practices against the company.
The allegations, involving more than 675 workers, are now being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency that enforces labor laws.
“Rather than working with us on a fair contract, Disney engaged in multiple instances of conduct that we allege constituted unfair labor practices, including unlawful discipline, intimidation, and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union badges at work,” the statement said. Disney’s Employee Bargaining Committee said in a statement ahead of the vote.
“We recognize that these actions are nothing more than an attempt to prevent us from exercising our rights and to burden us with a contract that perpetuates the status quo at Disney,” the negotiating committee added.
The said union buttons represent a white Mickey Mouse style glove raised in fist.
Good said the costumes worn by cast members are “a critical part of enhancing the experience of our Disney show.”
“Anything that distracts from the show or the story, whether it’s an unapproved button, pin or sticker worn by a cast member, will be dealt with by a responsible person,” he said.
In recent years, labor scientists have drawn public attention to the economic struggles of workers at Disneyland and other major theme parks across the country.
More than 50% of salary goes to rent
In early 2018, for example, researchers from Occidental College and the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research group, released a report finding that 74 percent of Disneyland workers were unable to cover basic expenses each month. The report interviewed workers who had experienced homelessness, food insecurity and other challenges.
In an internal survey of union members conducted earlier this year, 28 percent of Disneyland employees reported experiencing food insecurity, 33 percent reported experiencing housing insecurity in the past year, and 42 percent reported having to take time off work for medical treatment because they did not have enough sick leave.
The unions stated when announcing the authorization of the strike that 64% of the casts spend more than half of your monthly salary for rent.
The four unions representing the workers are Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) 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 Disneyland employee contract expired on June 16. The Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney employee contract ends on September 30.
The last time Disneyland workers went on strike was in September 1984, when nearly 2,000 employees walked off the job for 22 days.
While the Disney employee bargaining committee said it was committed to talks on Monday and Tuesday, it said its strike authorization allows it to call a strike at any time.
Source: NBC