Editor: We received this press release over the weekend, from some of the unions representing Disney workers or “cast members.” While we really coulda used these folks’ help during our effort to delay and improve the DisneylandForward plan, we can’t help but agree with them that Disney is “FULL OF HOT AIR.” Enjoy, and maybe we’ll see you there in the morning:
MEDIA ALERT FOR MONDAY JUNE 17 AT 7:30 AM
Contact: (UFCW 324) Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, jthompson@ufcw324.org
(SEIU-USWW) Sebastian Silva, 619.754.3350, sebastian.silva@seiu-usww.org
(SEIU-USWW) Maria Elena Jauregui, Spanish-language, 818.355.5291
DISNEY CAST MEMBERS TO PASS OUT BALLOONS TO GUESTS TO SHOW HOW DISNEY IS FULL OF HOT AIR IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Disney Cast Members to Pass Out Balloons to Park Guests the Day After Their Contract Expires Asking for Support
Anaheim, CA – On Monday, June 17, Disney cast members, community supporters and union members will pass out balloons to park guests asking them to sign a petition supporting their fight for a fair contract with Disney. Since entering into negotiations with its largest bargaining unit of workers in California, Disney has repeatedly stymied cast members’ efforts to reach a new contract that fairly compensates cast members for their work.
Cast members are joining together the day after their contract for Disneyland is set to expire to ensure guests at the parks know how Disney has failed to offer cast members the respect and wages they deserve at the bargaining table. Cast members create the magic integral to guests’ experiences that keeps them coming back to the parks, why Disney’s parks have led the corporation’s profit growth following the pandemic, and why Disney can afford to pursue a $1.9 billion expansion.
WHAT: Disney cast members to pass out balloons to park guests asking for support for their contract fight
WHO: Disney cast members
Union members
Community supporters
WHEN: Monday, June 17, 2024, at 7:30AM
WHERE: Corner of Harbor and Disney Way
VISUALS: Disney cast members in costume passing out balloons to park guests; white and blue balloons with Disney Workers Rising logo
BACKGROUND:
Disney’s largest bargaining unit of workers in California – composed of custodians and ride operators to candy makers and merchandise clerks – entered into negotiations with the company on April 24, 2024 and are fighting for fair wages, a fair attendance policy, seniority increases and safe parks for cast members and guests.
Last week, Disney cast members announced that they filed unfair labor practice charges against Disney on behalf of 13,000 workers at the resort for unlawful discipline, intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work. Over 550 cast members were intimidated, surveilled and disciplined for wearing union buttons in support of their contract campaign.
While Disneyland brands itself as “The Happiest Place on Earth” the reality for park employees is one of economic hardship. The cast members that make these profits possible report that 73% of them do not earn enough money to cover basic expenses each month. A separate survey of cast members this year found that:
- Nearly three in 10 cast members (28%) report experiencing food insecurity
- 64% of cast members are “rent burdened” or spending more than half of their monthly paychecks on rent
- 33% of cast members experienced housing insecurity in the past year
- 42% of cast members had to miss work for medical treatment because they didn’t have enough sick leave
The contract for 13,000 cast members at Disneyland, represented by the four unions in the Master Services Agreement, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM), the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), the Teamsters Local 495 and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324, expires June 16, 2024. The contract for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney cast members expires September 30, 2024.
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Has Disney paid workers those back wages that they owe them yet?
Last I heard, no. Back wages, interest and penalties. But Disney is finding that it’s very very difficult and complicated to track down all the workers they’ve had over the last six years who left for better jobs and more affordable housing!
I wish these union people weren’t so lockstep, on only the one issue they’re told to be involved in. Props to union activist JEFF FRO, for at least showing up to support us against D-Fwd. Meanwhile there were 22 “cast members” who sang unblemished praise of their boss. I’m sure it was a good career choice for each of them.
Having thought about it a little more, I’m not sure that workers engaging in this “job action” would have protection against termination. This is not disparaging Disney from outside its gates, while not acting as a company representative. This is doing it inside their gates. If it’s cast members who are using their prerogative to come inside Disney any time they want, it’s arguably a misuse of that privilege. If it’s cast members who who are actually in their cast member garb, it’s even more an issue of tarnishing from inside.
This stunt is quintessentially Ada — and it is quintessentially not well thought out. Maybe Disney simply cannot afford to fire everyone, which gives the union some leverage — but the company will be able to target people one-by-one with a greater claim to legality than it would otherwise have. And with what gain? How many members of the public will react well to having the bubble of disbelief and call on Disney to support its workers? Maybe a few token tourists — whose actions will be well publicized as if it were not just a few. Moving picket lines along Harbor and whatever part of Disney and Autry are not yet privatized would be better. So would a work slowdown.
I don’t think these particular unions are run by Ada, are they?
They sent out photos and videos of the “action”
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