Disneyland unions vote for strike

As summer slowly turns into the Halloween and holiday season, Disneyland Resort guests may have to prepare for a less magical trip to Disneyland. As part of ongoing collective bargaining, members of the Disneyland union coalition have voted almost unanimously to go on strike.

While the Disneyland Resort offers guests discounts and incentives to visit the California parks during a hot and quiet summer, Disneyland employees and their unions are fighting for better working conditions. Disneyland’s largest union represents over 9,000 employees from ride operators, park rangers, merchandise handlers, janitors, and many more, at Disneyland Park alone. The contract between the union and Disneyland was set to expire on June 16, 2024, with negotiations for a new contract beginning back in April. The contract for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney employees expires on September 30, 2024, which could result in over 14,000 employees ready to strike if negotiations continue much longer.

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As the Orange County Register reported, the Master Services Council, the union representative body that represents thousands of Disneyland employees in four unions, held a strike authorization vote on July 19, 2024, which received 99% approval. No strike date has been set yet, and Disney officials are expected to meet with union representatives on July 22 and 23 to continue negotiations, which will focus on wage increases, improved safety measures, attendance policies and other benefits.

Disneyland faces strike approval after difficult year

Last year, Disneyland Paris faced several employee strikes and protests that led to the suspension and cancellation of several shows, parades and other events. The SAG-AFTRA and WGA unions also shut down and severely disrupted film, television and video game productions, including several projects under the Walt Disney Company umbrella. Since Disneyland California’s unions represent over 14,000 employees across the two parks and the downtown Disney area, a strike call could once again severely disrupt operations within the company as well as the guest experience at Disneyland. However, Disneyland spokeswoman Jessica Good seemed unfazed by the vote, saying in a released statement that the approval was “not unusual as part of a negotiation process.” As unlikely as it may be that a strike will actually be called, the 99 percent approval shows that employees are determined to push through their concerns.

The Walt Disney Company announced thousands of layoffs last year while facing unionization in several departments across Disney’s various sectors. It has also faced a lot of criticism in recent years, most recently in response to the complete overhaul of the Genie+ Lightning Lane system in the parks that goes into effect this month. With no strike date set, the Disneyland Resort will continue to welcome guests without interruption to daily operations, although a stop-work order can now be issued at any time due to the permit, so park-goers should be prepared to be flexible when planning a Disney visit in the coming weeks.

Disney

Disney is a conglomerate and media company that owns numerous television networks such as ABC, Disney Channel, and Disney XD. Disney also owns the Marvel and Star Wars franchises, as well as the popular Disney theme parks around the world.