Disneyland cast members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of going on strike.
Four unions representing 14,000 cast members at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels – The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83, SEIU-United Service Workers West, Teamsters Local 395 and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324 – announced a 99% membership vote for the strike on Friday.
The vote comes two days after more than 1,000 cast members and supporters rallied at the entrance to Disneyland, protesting what they call “unfair labor practices.”
“Disney has resorted to unlawful tactics instead of treating the bargaining process with the respect and seriousness it deserves,” the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a statement. “We make Disneyland the place for family vacations, birthdays, celebrations…and the magic you find across the resort.”
“But instead of rewarding our hard work and dedication, Disney is intimidating, surveilling and unlawfully disciplining members, harming our negotiations and our ability to get the contract we deserve,” the committee added.
Members of Disney’s largest bargaining unit in California entered negotiations with the company on April 24. They are looking for fair wages, a fair attendance policy, seniority increases and increased park safety.
In June, cast members announced the filing of unfair labor practice charges against Disney for unlawful discipline, intimidation and surveillance of union members wearing union buttons while at work. The National Labor Relations Board is looking into those claims, union officials said.
“While Disneyland brands itself as ‘The Happiest Place on Earth,’ the reality for park employees is largely one of economic hardship,” the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said, adding that they found 64% of cast members spend more than half their monthly paychecks on rent.
The contract for Disneyland cast members expired on June 16, while the contract for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney cast members expires on Sept. 30, the unions said.
A strike date has not been scheduled, and the park has not commented on the recent strike authorization vote.
Negotiators and union officials are set to meet again on July 22 and July 23.