Disneyland Workers Vote To Authorize Strike

Disneyland workers in Southern California have voted to authorize a strike.

Four unions representing more than 14,000 workers at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney retail district and Disney-owned hotels voted to authorize the strike in an almost unanimous decision, with 99 percent of participating members opting for the walkout, the unions said.

The four unions cited alleged unfair labor practices during contract negotiations as the reason for the walkout.

"This vote shows that the Cast Members have had enough!" Aaron Zarate, a member of the workers' bargaining committee, said in a statement.

The vote does not mean the strike will take place immediately, with negotiations ongoing.

If the strike does occur, it will be the first at Disneyland in over 40 years. Then, nearly 2,000 cast members walked out for 22 days after the company said it would introduce a two-year wage freeze and outsource jobs, while part-time workers would be denied health insurance.

The walkout ended when Disney agreed to keep health benefits for part-time and seasonal workers—provided they worked 20 hours over five-day schedules. The park also agreed to limit outsourcing to 10 percent for union work, but kept the two-year wage freeze.

Since then relations between the company and the unions representing its workers have deteriorated again, with the unions, which represent workers including custodians, cast members, ride operators, candymakers and merchandise clerks, entering into bargaining negotiation with the entertainment giant on April 24.

On June 10, Disney workers announced that they had filed unfair labor practice charges against the company.

In a statement released before the strike vote, the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee alleged the unfair labor practices included "unlawful discipline and intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work."

"Instead of working with us toward a fair contract, Disney has engaged in multiple instances of conduct we allege are unfair labor practices," the Bargaining Committee said.

"We know these actions are only an attempt to stop us from exercising our rights and saddle us with a contract that perpetuates the status quo at Disney."

Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good said the costumed cast members are "a critical part of enhancing the experience of our Disney show."

"Anything that distracts from the show or story, be it a non-approved button, pin or sticker worn by a cast member, would be addressed by a leader," she said.

The charges are now being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency that enforces labor law.

This is not the first time the treatment of Disney workers has been in the spotlight.

In early 2018, researchers at Occidental College and the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research group, released a report finding that 74 percent of Disneyland workers could not cover basic expenses each month, with some employees experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, among other issues.

Meanwhile, in an internal survey of union members conducted earlier this year, 28 percent of Disneyland cast members reported experiencing food insecurity.

The survey also found that 33 percent of workers reported experiencing housing insecurity in the last year, while 42 percent reported needing to miss work for medical treatment because they did not have enough sick leave.

Some 64 percent of cast members are also spending more than half their monthly paychecks on rent, the unions said when announcing strike action.

Although it is unclear when strike action will take place, the bargaining committee has said strike authorization allows it to call a strike at any time.

Good said that a strike authorization is "not unusual" during the bargaining process, and noted negotiations are still scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

"We greatly appreciate 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," Good said.