Union of Disney World Workers Fights To Raise Minimum Wage
The struggle continues as Disney employees advocate for higher pay. A union of Disney World workers fights to raise the minimum wage.
Union of Disney World Workers
Florida Politics reports that a coalition of Cast Members is trying to increase the minimum wage by $3. Their goal is to raise the number from $15 to $18 an hour for the first year of new Disney contracts.
Photo: uniteherelocal737
Negotiations with the company continue as a new survey from Unite Local 737 sheds light on the quality of life for union employees. Inflation and higher costs in Central Florida are causing them to struggle in their day to day.
Fight To Raise Minimum Wage
A report entitled, Orlando Tourism Workers Need a Raise, shares the survey’s findings. 19,000 workers from Central Florida took part, including “cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers, quick-service restaurant staff, and others at Disney World.”
Photo: TripAdvisor
Most of the 2,415 hourly tourism workers were employees of Disney. Sadly, according to Florida Politics, roughly 69% of participants said, “at one point they didn’t have money to pay their rent or their mortgage this past year.”
In addition, “62% reported having less than $100 in their bank account.” A little less than half admitted to skipping meals because they simply could not afford to eat.
Photo: Disney
Migdalia Viera, who earns $15 an hour at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, shares, “We have no money in the bank. Sometimes I pay a bill this month and if I can’t pay the other bills, I leave it for the next month.”
Union leaders say that companies like Disney are “surpassing their pre-pandemic profits.” Meanwhile, employees are living paycheck to paycheck and can’t even afford basic needs.
Some have expressed concerns about becoming homeless. Others admitted to working a second job or adding roommates to help with the cost of living.
Disney World did not respond to Florida Politics when they requested a comment. The next bargaining session will take place at the end of November.
Mickey Blog will keep you posted as this union of Disney World workers fights to raise minimum wage.
