Nearly 14,000 Disney cast members have ratified a massive new agreement for Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland is renowned as the “Happiest Place on Earth” – but a reputation like that doesn’t come overnight. From its classic family attractions like “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, and the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, to more intense thrills like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, it takes a ton of manpower to keep the magic moving every single day.
And rides aren’t just one cog in the Mouse’s machine. Disney employees, better known as cast members, are responsible for manning the gift shops, making and serving the food, maintaining security, and much, much more. In other words, without cast members, there would be no Disneyland.
This truth has added fuel to the fire for thousands of frustrated cast members in recent months. As the cost of living soars – and Anaheim is hit hard – it’s become increasingly tough for Disneyland Resort cast members to get by on their current salaries. This has led to the unions that represent these cast members standing up to The Walt Disney Company while trying to negotiate better wages for its theme park workers in Southern California.
A statement from The Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee reads: “Workers of Disney’s largest bargaining unit in California – representing a diverse set of classifications from custodians and ride operators to candy makers and merchandise clerks – entered into negotiations with the company on April 24, 2024, and are fighting for fair wages, a fair attendance policy, seniority increases and safe parks for cast members and guests.”
Cast members have shared grueling stories in recent months about the ways they’ve had to fight to survive on their current salaries. Some described being forced to live in their cars, unable to afford surging rent in Anaheim. Union officials claim that one in 10 Disneyland Resort cast members have experienced homelessness while working at the park, while a survey found that 73% of workers don’t make enough to cover basic expenses each month.
As negotiations proved fruitless, Disneyland Resort cast members – including those from Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney, and the resort’s three hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Pixar Place Hotel) – took to the streets outside the theme parks to stage a protest earlier this month.
Four labor unions subsequently carried out a vote on strike action, with 99% of union members saying “yes” to a potential walkout. While no date was set, this opened the door to severe disruption across the entire resort – potentially even shutting it down completely. Had it gone ahead, it would’ve been the first cast member strike to hit Disneyland Resort since 1984, when five unions went on strike for 22 days after Disneyland tried to freeze wages for two years, eliminate health insurance for part-time cast members, and outsource more roles.
Fortunately, drastic action wasn’t required this time. Last week, Disney Workers Rising confirmed that they’d reached a tentative agreement with Disney.
“We have reached a tentative agreement with Disney,” they said on Instagram. “We have fought hard for the past four months and this tentative agreement would not have been possible without the strength we showed this past week with our rally and Unfair Labor Practice vote.”
This new agreement reportedly included a three-year contract containing significant wage increases for all cast members (starting at $24 per hour, which the group has called the “biggest wage increases ever” at the resort), as well as seniority increases and additional premiums. It also apparently included negotiations on issues that will improve attendance and sick leave policies for cast members.
Of course, this was only a tentative agreement and wouldn’t come into action until cast members themselves gave it the nod of approval. The good news is that they did just that last night, when workers voted to ratify the contract – avoiding strike action altogether.
Disney Workers Rising has released a new statement celebrating the vote outcome.
Every meeting we attended, rally we participated in, petition we signed, and button we wore forced Disney to recognize our power and enabled us to reach this historic agreement. The solidarity and record participation we achieved in this fight means we are that much stronger for our next contract campaign. And that campaign starts now.
Look at what we have accomplished this year, and imagine what we can do when we have three years to get even stronger before we come back to the bargaining table and sit across from Disney. We are absolutely stronger together, so continue to stay engaged with your stewards, fellow cast members and your union.
It also celebrated the vote on X (formerly known as Twitter), where it wrote: “Our Disney Contracts Have Been Ratified! Our new three-year contract agreements with Disney have officially been ratified. Thank you for taking the time to vote and ensuring your voice was heard.”
Our Disney Contracts Have Been Ratified!
Our new three-year contract agreements with Disney have officially been ratified. Thank you for taking the time to vote and ensuring your voice was heard. pic.twitter.com/fQYisP2V4m— DisneyWorkersRising (@disneyrising24) July 30, 2024
Disneyland Resort has also shared its own statement. Spokesperson Jessica Good sent an email to the Washington Post in which she confirmed that the company is “pleased that our cast members approved the new agreements, which, along with all we offer as part of our employment experience, demonstrate how much we value them and our profound commitment to their overall well-being.”
Are you pleased with the new Disneyland Resort contracts?
