Thousands of Disneyland Workers to Vote on Strike Authorization
Thousands of Disneyland workers are poised to authorize a potential strike, marking the first such action in 40 years. Employees like Cyn Carranza, who cleans Disneyland floors starting at midnight, struggle to make ends meet despite holding multiple jobs. Carranza’s wages were insufficient to afford rent, forcing her to live in her car for four months last year. The vote, involving 9,500 Disneyland employees, will conclude on Friday and is expected to pass overwhelmingly.
Union Negotiations and Potential Strike
If the vote passes, union leadership will decide whether to proceed with the strike. Disneyland officials have assured that contingency plans are in place to maintain park operations at expected service levels during a potential strike. Union leaders, however, suggest that if the strike occurs, it would likely be of limited duration, unlike the ongoing strikes by actors’ and writers’ unions that have halted film and TV productions.
Core Issues: Wages and Living Conditions
The potential strike officially concerns Disney (NYSE:DIS) prohibiting union buttons at work, but the underlying issue for many employees is the current contract’s failure to provide a livable wage. Carranza earns just over $20 per hour, including a differential for overnight shifts, but finds this inadequate in a county where the median rent is $2,251 per month. Despite working laborious shifts, she struggled with housing and now shares an apartment with a roommate.
Affordability Challenges in Southern California
The high cost of living in Anaheim, where the Disneyland Resort is located, exacerbates these challenges. Workers earn about $20 per hour, but this is insufficient to cover basic living expenses. California’s minimum wage for fast food workers is now $20 per hour, affecting wage dynamics across industries. A measure approved by Anaheim voters requires Disneyland Resort employees to earn a minimum of $19.90 per hour as of January 2024.
Veteran Employees Share Struggles
Long-time Disneyland employees like Coleen Palmer, who has worked at the resort for 37 years, have seen significant changes in affordability. Palmer recalls being able to rent a two-bedroom apartment for $400 a month on her wages. Today, she rents a one-bedroom apartment for over $2,000 a month and struggles to cover all expenses on her $2,800 monthly income. She limits her grocery purchases and other spending to make ends meet.
Palmer is frustrated by the lack of substantial wage increases for experienced workers. While new employees benefit from the city’s minimum wage laws, long-time employees see minimal raises. Disneyland officials claim that wages have increased by over 40% in the past five years, but much of this increase is due to changes in state and local minimum wage laws.
Impact of a Potential Strike
The potential strike would involve 9,500 employees working at Disneyland Park, whose contract expired in June. Another 4,500 employees in the same bargaining group, working at Downtown Disney, Disney hotels, and Disney California Adventure, are not part of the current strike developments but may face similar issues when their contract expires in September. Together, these workers represent about 40% of the resort’s employees.
Upcoming Negotiations
The unions and Disneyland have scheduled two more meetings on Monday and Tuesday to address these issues. The potential strike also involves a dispute over union buttons depicting a raised Mickey fist. Several unions filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Disney for alleged unlawful discipline and surveillance of union members wearing these buttons at work.
Disneyland’s Position
Disneyland officials maintain that wearing union buttons violates the parks’ uniform policy and disrupts the immersive experience for guests. The company’s policy is to ask employees to remove non-approved buttons to maintain the integrity of the “show.” Repeated violations could lead to disciplinary action, starting with a verbal warning.
Conclusion
As Disneyland workers vote on authorizing a strike, the outcome could significantly impact the resort’s operations and highlight ongoing issues related to wages and working conditions. The high cost of living in Southern California makes it challenging for many workers to make ends meet, emphasizing the need for meaningful wage increases and better working conditions. The coming days will be crucial in determining the next steps in this labor dispute.
Featured Image: Freepik
