Workers at Disneyland Resort, owned by The Walt Disney Co. in Burbank, have approved a three-year contract with the Anaheim theme park.
The 14,000 employees of Disneyland and other parts of the park, known as cast members, voted on the contract July 29.
The contract includes the division’s largest-ever wage increases, with most cast members receiving $6.10 per hour over the life of the contract and a new minimum wage base hourly rate of $24 from the previous rate of $19.90.
The contract also includes longevity increases of 50 cents per hour for cast members with over 10 years of service and a $2 per hour increase for workers with 20 years or more of service as well as attendance policy and sick leave improvements that give employees more opportunities to attend to personal issues without fearing discipline.
“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,” Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good said in a statement.
Disney offers its cast members an Employee Assistance program, childcare, legal and tax support, commuter assistance, tuition reimbursement and the opportunity to engage with local communities through the VoluntEARS program.
The workers, who are part of the Master Services Council and include custodians, ride operators, candy makers, merchandise clerks and more at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels in Anaheim, had voted on July 19 to authorize their bargaining unit, Disney Workers Rising, to call for a strike if a contract agreement was not reached. The contracts were reached on July 24, and the strike call became a moot point.
The Disneyland contract expired in June, while the contracts with workers at California Adventure and Downtown Disney were set to lapse on Sept. 30.
“By ratifying these contracts, Disney cast members have secured historic raises and policies and protections that reflect their role as magic makers in the Disney parks,” the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a posting at the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 324 website. “For months hard-working cast members have stood together at the bargaining table and in the parks to ensure Disney recognized what they bring to the theme park experience, and these contracts are a concrete and direct result of this tireless work.”Â
Cast members are represented by the UFCW Local 324, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 83, SEIU-United Service Workers West and Teamsters Local 495.
“Together by wearing buttons, attending rallies and telling their stories to the public, cast members fought for a more promising future for themselves, their fellow cast members, and their families,” the bargaining committee’s statement continued. “These contracts are historic for Disney cast members and we’re pleased (their) lives will improve as a result.”
