Disneyland Workers in Southern California Are Set to Strike
Fourteen thousand employees and Cast Members of Disneyland Resort are set to strike. For the first time in over 40 years, Disneyland Resort faces potential disruptions as growing tensions between the workers and Disney escalate over alleged unfair labor practices.
![Disneyland Mickey and Minnie Sleeping Beauty Castle](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Disneyland-Mickey-and-Minnie-Sleeping-Beauty-Castle.png)
![Disneyland Mickey and Minnie Sleeping Beauty Castle](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Disneyland-Mickey-and-Minnie-Sleeping-Beauty-Castle.png)
Photo: Disney
Possible Strike
The last time Disney saw a strike was in 1984 when nearly 2,000 cast members walked out for 22 days as a result of a proposed two-year wage freeze, outsourcing of jobs, and denial of health insurance for part-time workers.
Cast Members are once again ready to strike, and 99% of the participating members voted in favor.
![characters](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/characters-castle-at-disneyland.jpg.webp)
![characters](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/characters-castle-at-disneyland.jpg.webp)
Disney
Aaron Zarate, a member of the workers’ bargaining committee, shared, “This vote shows that the Cast Members have had enough!”
Negotiations began on April 24, and on June 10, the unions officially filed unfair labor practice charges against Disney. The company was accused of “unlawful discipline, intimidation, and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work.”
![Disneyland](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DisneylandCaliforniaThemeParkTicket-KlookAustralia-scaled.jpg)
![Disneyland](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DisneylandCaliforniaThemeParkTicket-KlookAustralia-scaled.jpg)
Disney
Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good stressed the importance of cast members in creating memories and preserving the guest experience. “Anything that distracts from the show or story, be it a non-approved button, pin, or sticker worn by a cast member, would be addressed by a leader.”
The Bigger Picture
The bigger picture of the labor dispute is the financial struggles for many Disneyland workers. A 2018 report by Occidental College and the Economic Roundtable found that 74% of Disneyland workers could not cover basic expenses each month. The report also found further issues with homelessness and food insecurity.
A recent union survey found:
- 28% of cast members experienced food insecurity
- 33% faced housing insecurity
- 42%needed to miss work for medical treatment due to insufficient sick leave.
There is no date or timeline for the strike, but the authorization allows employees to walk out at any time.
![logo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-27-at-7.33.36-PM-300x172.png)
![logo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-27-at-7.33.36-PM-300x172.png)
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Article Source: Newsweek
Feature Photo:AARONP/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES