Four unions representing 14,000 cast members at the Disneyland Resort held a protest on the Anaheim theme park’s anniversary on Wednesday ahead of a planned strike vote.
Disneyland union employees rallied outside the park’s entrance to support union contract negotiations seeking fair wages, safety improvements and more.
Union members set up a sound system outside the Disneyland security checkpoint and delivered speeches while guests entered and exited the theme park, according to the Orange County Register.
The rally later moved to Harbor Boulevard, where union members chanted, “If we don’t get it, shut it down.” Some Disneyland visitors posted videos of the rally on social media.
Master Services Council, which represents 14,000 Disneyland employees from four unions, plans to hold a strike authorization vote on Friday.
Voting results are expected to be announced by Saturday.
The unions involved are the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 83, the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West, the Teamsters Local 495 and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324.
“With yesterday’s rally, we continue to be focused on the wellbeing of our guests and cast members. We remain committed to the upcoming meetings on July 22 – 23 and reaching an agreement with Master Services that focuses on what matters most to cast members, positions Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation and enables us to continue delivering incredible guest experiences,” Disneyland officials said in a statement to KTLA.
Disneyland Resort previously shared with KTLA that starting rates for positions range from $19.90 to $25 an hour and that the resort offers a “robust” benefits package and additional resources for cast members.
In May, the union representatives said they filed unfair labor practice charges against Disney on behalf of the 14,000 cast members for “unlawful discipline, intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work.”
The National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating the charges.
The latest strike authorization comes during Disneyland’s busy summer season and after Disneyland cast members, particularly those who work in the resort’s Characters and Parades departments, announced their intent to unionize in February.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Disney theme park workers haven’t walked off the job since a 22-day strike in 1984.