UPDATED: Late today unions representing 14,000 cast members at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels announced their members had voted to ratify new three-year contracts with Disney.
“Today’s vote is a historic win for cast members, who stood strong against corporate power and remained united in the face of unlawful actions by the company,” said Ellie Gonzalez, a custodian at Disney California Adventure and Disney Workers Rising bargaining committee member. “We secured historic wage increases that will allow me to build a better future for the family I am building. For the first time, we won longevity pay that recognizes our years of service to Disney and the critical role we play in making it one of the most profitable companies in the world. These victories wouldn’t be possible without the strength every cast member demonstrated throughout our bargaining process.”
Key provisions of the agreements include:
- A three-year contract;
- The biggest wage increases ever. Most cast members will be receiving $6.10 over three years,
- Minimum base wage rate of $24 in 2024 (or more for some classifications);
- Historic longevity increases for senior cast members;
- Attendance policy and sick leave improvements that give cast members more opportunities to attend to personal issues without fearing discipline;
- New premiums for cast members.
The contracts go into effect immediately upon ratification.
Per a Disney statement, the agreements include a starting rate of $24/hour increasing to $26/hour over the three years of the contract. “All cast members with a current rate of $19.90 per hour will receive a nearly 21% initial increase to $24.00 per hour, which will increase to at least a nearly 31% increase over the life of the contract,” the company reported.
“We are 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.”
Unions involved include the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83, SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), Teamsters Local 495, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324.
PREVIOUSLY on July 24: Disney Workers Rising, the Disneyland unions’ bargaining group, said it has reached a tentative agreement with the company on a new three-year contract covering 14,000 workers at Disneyland parks and resorts.
Members of a coalition of unions repped by the Master Services Council will vote on the new deal Monday. Last week, they authorized leaders to call a strike if no agreement was reached, threatening a labor stoppage at any time. The deal announced today averts that for now.
“We achieved our goals – a 3-year contract that contains significant wage increases for all cast members, seniority increases and additional premiums as well as the retention of premiums. We also addressed issues that will make the attendance policy work better for cast members,” the group posted on X today. It said concerted action from big rallies to wearing union buttons to worldwide news coverage drove the bargaining.
“We have shown Disney that we are the true magic makers of the park,” Disney Workers Rising said. “We stood up to the company’s unfair labor practices and showed them that we were willing to do whatever it took to get the contract we deserved. Our solidarity and victory today sends a message to workers everywhere – when we fight, we win.”
The unions represent a wide swath of workers from ride operators, store clerks and custodians to ticket takers, parking attendants, tram drivers and others. The Disneyland contract covering about 9,000 workers expired last month. The Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney contracts for some 5,000 employees were set to expire in September.
Disney had noted that Disneyland Resort employs over 35,000 “cast members,” so a strike would affect only a portion of workers. “The Disneyland Resort parks and hotels will remain open and ready to welcome guests if any number of our Disney cast members strike.”
In a statement today, the company said, “We care deeply about the wellbeing of our cast members and are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with Master Services Council that addresses what matters most to our cast while positioning Disneyland Resort for future growth and job creation.”
