A strike is approved by thousands of Disneyland employees

A strike is approved by thousands of Disneyland employees
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Citing alleged unfair labor tactics during contract negotiations, four unions representing more than 14,000 employees at Disney theme parks and resort locations in Southern California declared late Friday that members had voted by a large majority to approve a strike.

The authorization does not guarantee a strike will occur right away; a mutually beneficial agreement may be reached to prevent a walkout. In the event that a strike happens, it will be the first at Disneyland in forty years.

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Although the number of employees who cast ballots was not disclosed, the unions reported that 99% of those who took part voted in favor of authorizing a strike.

“The cast members have had enough, as evidenced by this vote!” Disneyland confectioner Aaron Zarate, a member of the workers’ bargaining committee, stated in a statement.

The unions mentioned food and housing insecurity as well as other financial hardships faced by their members. They started haggling on April 24.

Negotiations are still set for Monday and Tuesday, according to Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good, who also stated that strike permission is “not unusual” during the bargaining process.

“We are committed to coming to a resolution that prioritizes their needs while setting Disneyland Resort up for expansion and job development. We recognize the critical responsibilities that our cast members play in providing our guests with unforgettable experiences,” Good stated.

Custodians, ride operators, candy makers, and merchandise clerks at the well-known theme park and resort complex—a cornerstone of Southern California’s tourism economy—are among the workers at the focus of the labor dispute.

On April 24, the labor unions and the massive entertainment company began contract discussions. On June 10, over two months later, Disney employees declared that they had brought charges against the firm for unfair labor practices.

The National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal organization tasked with upholding labor laws, is currently looking into the charges, which pertain to over 675 individuals.

The Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee released a statement prior to the vote stating, “Rather than cooperating with us to reach a just agreement, Disney has allegedly participated in a number of actions that we consider to be unfair labor practices, such as monitoring and illegally disciplining union members who exercise their right to wear union buttons to work.”

The bargaining committee said, “We are aware that these acts are only an attempt to prevent us from using our legal rights and to bind us to a contract that keeps things as they are at Disney.”

The disputed union buttons feature a white glove lifted in a fist, a la Mickey Mouse.

According to Good, “an essential component of improving our Disney show’s experience” is the costumes worn by the cast members.

“A leader would address anything that detracts from the show or story, whether it be an unapproved button, pin, or sticker worn by a cast member,” the spokesperson stated.

The financial hardships faced by employees at Disneyland and other big theme parks across the nation have come to the attention of the general public in recent years, according to labor scholars.

For instance, a report published early in 2018 by the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research organization, and Occidental College researchers revealed that 74% of Disneyland employees were unable to pay their basic monthly costs. Employees who had dealt with homelessness, food insecurity, and other difficulties were polled for the report.

Earlier this year, an internal survey of union members revealed that 28% of Disneyland cast members had experienced food insecurity, 33% had experienced housing insecurity, and 42% had had to miss work due to medical needs due to a lack of sick leave.

When the unions announced their authorization for a strike, they stated that 64% of cast members were paying rent with more than half of their monthly salary.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324, Teamsters Local 495, Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), and Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83 are the four unions that represent the workers.

Disneyland cast member contracts ended on June 16. Cast members’ contracts at Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure end on September 30.

The last time a strike affected Disneyland was in September 1984, when over 2,000 employees took a 22-day leave of absence.

The Disney workers’ bargaining committee stated that it is willing to engage in talks on Monday and Tuesday, but it also stated that it has the authority to call a strike at any moment due to the strike authorization.

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