What Disneyland’s strike approval means for your visit this week

Late Friday night, a coalition of four unions known as the Master Services Council, which represents nearly 14,000 Disneyland Resort employees, announced that its members had voted to strike against unfair labor practices at the theme park giant. The vote came two days after union members staged a demonstration outside Disneyland’s entrance to draw attention to their collective bargaining negotiations on the park’s 69th anniversary.

The demonstration and now news of the strike authorization have left Disney visitors concerned about what to expect when they visit the Disneyland Resort this week, so we wanted to answer the questions that have been popping up on social media.

Are Disneyland employees on strike now?

NO. Disneyland employees are NOT currently on strike. When Disneyland and Disney California Adventure open on Saturday, everything should be business as usual.

Friday’s vote only gave union organizers the right to call a strike – it does not oblige them to do so. Union organizers have urged their members NOT to strike unless their union tells them to.

What happens next?

Disney and the unions are scheduled to meet on Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23 to continue contract negotiations that have been ongoing since April.

The unions have stated that “a strike is always a last resort” and that they intend to return to the bargaining table on Monday in good faith. Disney itself said in response to the strike authorization vote:

“We deeply value the important role our employees play in creating memorable experiences for our guests and remain committed to reaching an agreement that focuses on what matters most to them while positioning Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation. The Master Services Council’s approval of a strike date is not unusual as part of a bargaining process and we look forward to continuing discussions at upcoming meetings on Monday, July 22 and Tuesday, July 23. A strike is not planned and Disneyland Resort continues to welcome guests.”

Could there still be a strike?

In a statement to workers, the unions said: “If after two more days of negotiations, Disney is not prepared to agree to the offer you deserve, we will take the action we must take and for which you have overwhelmingly expressed your support.”

It definitely sounds like the unions are ready to push this into a strike, but they have also told their members that there are “many ways we can stand up for our rights.” Depending on how negotiations go on Monday and Tuesday, it’s possible we could see a strike call later this week, but hopefully it won’t come to that.

Which actors and departments would be affected by a strike?

The Master Services Council represents nearly 14,000 Disneyland Resort employees, about half of all unionized positions at the resort, including attractions (ride operators), candy makers, costume designers, janitorial staff, main entrance, park and resort transportation, store operations, cast member shops, and the Anaheim distribution center.

Of those workers, only Disneyland Park employees are part of the current bargaining unit because their contract expired in June. Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney employees are still bound by a contract that does not expire until September, so they could not strike at this time.

Food and beverage, Disneyland Resort Hotels, entertainment, security, and numerous professional and trades employees are represented by other unions and are not involved in the current action.

What happens if there is a strike? Will the parks and hotels close?

In the event of a strike, Disney insists: “Our Disneyland Resort parks and hotels will remain open and ready to welcome guests, even if some of our Disney Cast Members go on strike.”

Any strike at this time would primarily impact rides, shops and operations at Disneyland park, as well as parking lots and trams. In the event of a strike, we would expect many managers to be back on the scene working in roles they may not have done in a long time, so there would be an adjustment period. Food, beverage and outdoor concession stands would not be affected and entertainment would likely run as scheduled. Again, Disney California Adventure employees cannot strike at this time.

There should be no impact on the three Disneyland Resort hotels.

How long would a strike last?

In a call with bargaining unit members last week, union officials said they would consider a “short strike, roughly three days.” Of course, that could change at any time, but it did not sound like the union was currently planning a long-term strike. In an FAQ for workers, the union says, “If we strike, our union leaders and bargaining committee will determine the duration that is most strategic for us.”

What is this all about?

The Master Services Council is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement for workers at the Disneyland Resort. Disney has proposed a 5-year contract with some pay and benefit increases. The unions want a 3-year contract and larger pay increases than Disney is offering. They call the company’s proposals “paltry” and “insulting.”

The union also wants to see changes to attendance policies, seniority bonuses for long-serving performers and maintaining bonus payments currently given to workers with certain specialized training. (For example, the person who sews your name onto your Mickey Mouse ears earns an hourly premium for that skill.)

The two sides have been meeting since April. In May, the union began distributing pins with the image of a raised Mickey Mouse fist to cast members. The union claims Disney began harassing, intimidating and disciplining cast members who wore such pins on their uniforms, and filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Disney with the National Labor Relations Board in June.

Friday’s vote specifically authorized a strike against Disney over unfair labor practices, which is different from an economic strike and offers workers different rights and protections.

So, should I cancel my visit/vacation or not?

As I have said repeatedly during the pandemic, don’t make non-refundable travel plans based on things I can tell you now.

While we are definitely keeping an eye on this situation, I also want to go back to a comment made by a union leader during a call with members last week when he said, “The threat of a strike is more powerful than the strike itself.” The union will go into negotiations with Disney on Monday with a strike authorization in hand, which could change the direction of negotiations. Hopefully the two sides can continue to make progress and avoid a strike altogether.

If you are strongly pro-union and refuse to break a picket line, you will have to decide what you want to do in the event of a strike – do you just go to Disney California Adventure or skip the trip altogether? Personally, I would wait another week before calling my travel agent to make changes, but that is something everyone has to decide for themselves and their families.