Disneyland Workers Authorize Strike Amid Contract Negotiations

 Members of four unions, representing 14,000 workers at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, have voted to authorize a strike amidst ongoing contract negotiations. This vote does not mean an immediate strike but grants the unions the authority to initiate one if necessary. If it proceeds, it will be the largest strike of 2024 so far.

“We have given the company more than enough time to do the right thing,” stated the unions, operating under the collective Disney Workers Rising bargaining committee, on social media after the vote.

Disney Workers Rising indicated that if Disney does not agree to their terms after two more days of negotiations, scheduled for July 22 and 23, they will proceed with necessary actions.

The union encompasses workers at the Disneyland Resort, which includes Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Disney hotels in the area.

A survey conducted by the union earlier this year revealed concerning statistics: 28% of its members face food insecurity, 64% are rent-burdened, and 42% have missed work for medical treatment due to insufficient sick leave.

Workers are advocating for higher wages, with the current minimum wage under Anaheim law at $19.90. The existing contract expired on June 16, and negotiations have been ongoing since late April.

Additionally, workers have accused Disney of "unlawful discipline and intimidation and surveillance" of union members, particularly after being told they could not wear union buttons at work.

Coleen Palmer, a cashier at Disneyland for over 30 years and a bargaining committee member, shared with the Guardian, “We have people who work at Disneyland who have to choose between paying their rent or buying groceries. There are people who go without medical care because they can’t afford it. There are people who rely on the food banks, and the churches, or food supplements. This is a place where people want to work but they want to be able to make a living doing what they’re doing and that’s what we’re fighting for.”

In response, a Disneyland Resort spokesperson stated that the company “greatly appreciate[s] 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.”