“For months, hardworking cast members have come together at the bargaining table and in the parks to ensure Disney recognizes what they bring to the theme park experience, and these contracts are the tangible, direct result of that tireless work,” the bargaining committee for Disney Workers Rising, the group of four unions that represent cast members on the contract, said in a statement after the vote.
“Together, by wearing badges, participating in rallies and telling their stories to the public, cast members fought for a brighter future for themselves, their colleagues and their families,” he said.
Union members, who include janitors, ride operators, candy sellers, merchandise clerks and workers who facilitate parking and transportation at the resort, work at both of Disneyland Resort’s theme parks — Disneyland and Disney California Adventure — or hold positions near Downtown Disney or the company. three hotels in Anaheim, California.
Jessica Good, a spokeswoman for Disneyland Resort, said in an emailed statement that the company was “pleased that our cast members have approved the new agreements, which, along with everything else we offer as part of our work experience, demonstrates how much we value them and our deep commitment to their overall well-being.”
Contract negotiations began in late April, as the union conglomerate (also known as the Master Services Council) sought pay increases, changes to attendance policy and seniority increases.
The sides were unable to reach an agreement before Disneyland’s previous contract expired in mid-June. (The Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney contracts don’t expire until Sept. 30.) The board accused Disney of unfair labor practices during the bargaining process, alleging that hundreds of cast members were “intimidated, surveilled and disciplined for wearing union badges in support of their contract campaign.”
Earlier this month, union members demonstrated for higher wages and fair labor practices outside the resort on Disneyland’s 69th anniversary. Days later, they voted 99 percent in favor of authorizing a strike if Disney Workers Rising deems it necessary.
Last week, after three months of negotiations, Disneyland Resort and Disney Workers Rising reached a tentative agreement, allaying fears of a walkout.
“We care deeply about the well-being of our cast members and are pleased to have reached an interim agreement with the Master Services Council that addresses what matters most to our cast members while positioning Disneyland Resort for future growth and job creation,” Disneyland Resort said in a statement Wednesday.
Now that the new contract has been approved by union members, they will not strike and the park’s operations will remain the same. A work stoppage would have been disastrous for the company and the rest of the theme park industry, according to Dennis Speigel, founder and CEO of the global consulting organization International Theme Park Services. The last strike at Disneyland lasted 22 days in 1984.
The four unions involved in the Disney Workers Rising movement are the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers Local 83, the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West, the Teamsters Local 495 and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324.
“Workers fought hard,” the Disney Workers Rising bargaining committee said in a statement Wednesday. “… We showed Disney that we are the true magic makers at the park, and today we are proving that when workers stand up for what they deserve, we win.”
