Disney Springs Restaurant Employees Move to Unionize Citing Pay Disparities and Poor Working Conditions
Employees at five Disney Springs restaurants managed by the Patina Restaurant Group have announced their plans to unionize.
In what has become an increasingly common refrain across Disney Parks, more than 300 workers at The Edison, Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, and Maria and Enzos are speaking out against poor working conditions and unfair wages.
“There is a second-class of restaurant workers at Delaware North restaurants at Disney Springs. Many of them make lower wages than peers at Disney,” said Jeremy Haicken, president of Unite Here Local 737.
“Many of them say they are considered part-time in the Delaware North system, even though they report working four, five, six or more days a week.”
Patina Employees
While the unionizing employees work on Walt Disney World property, they are not Disney employees. Instead, they work for the Patina Restaurant Group, which is owned by Delaware North.
These restaurant employees say they make less than their unionized Disney peers, who perform similar jobs just next door.
For example, Savrina Redditt, who is a cook at Morimota Asia, makes $18 an hour. According to the Patina employee, a cook with similar experience at a Disney-run restaurant makes significantly more.
“I try to be very motivated going into the workplace,” Redditt said. “Unfortunately, 10, 20 minutes, I find myself looking for the nearest exit, wishing to run out, especially when you are making appetizers that cost more than you make in an hour.”
The difference between the two groups of employees is that the Disney Cast Members are unionized.
A First For Disney Springs Employees
In addition to the pay disparity, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Patina employees say that the company expects part-time workers to have full-time availability and denies them benefits, including sick time, paid vacation, and health insurance.
“We’re expected to provide that Disney experience for our guests, but as employees, we are not getting that Disney experience we deserve,” said Kristen Mercer, an employee at Maria and Enzo’s.
The unionization effort marks the first time that subcontracted employees at Disney Springs have attempted to bargain collectively. Their cause has gained the support of Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) and Florida Senate Democratic candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith.
Unite Here Local 737 has also filed federal unfair labor practice charges against Patina, alleging that the company has threatened employees because of their union activity.