Disneyland workers just got a huge pay increase with big contract win

Disneyland workers just got a huge pay increase with big contract win

As a long-time Disneyland enthusiast and someone who has watched countless memories being made within those magical gates, Monday’s news was nothing short of heartwarming. After years of watching the hardworking cast members struggle to make ends meet, it’s a relief to see them finally getting the recognition they deserve.


On Monday, Disneyland Resort’s unionized employees secured a significant victory. Facing the possibility of a strike, negotiations between The Walt Disney Company and its unions resulted in a three-year contract. This new agreement includes an immediate pay increase, further wage hikes in the future, enhanced seniority, improved attendance and sick leave policies, as well as additional benefits.

The contract agreement averted the initial labor strike in Disney’s Anaheim resort for the past four decades, which was about to involve both Disneyland and its employees.

According to the freshly approved contract, current union workers now earn $24 per hour, effective as soon as it’s ratified. Over the next three years, this wage will further rise, reaching $26 per hour by 2026 for roles including ride operators, custodians, ticket takers, cashiers, and candymakers.

In their agreement, union representatives have acknowledged that employees hired following the voting process will initially earn less than $24 per hour; specifically, they’ll start at 90% of the standard wage for the first 52 weeks, equating to approximately $21.60 an hour. As stated by Rafael Rendon, a custodial worker at Disney’s California Adventure and a SEIU-USWW shop steward (LA Times), these new hires will be eligible for wage increases in accordance with the contract after completing their first year on the job.

In the previous year, Disney reached a deal to boost the salaries of approximately 8,500 workers in the food and beverage sector, who are represented by Workers United Local 50. As per this agreement, their pay will escalate to $23 an hour starting September 1st.

In earlier studies, it was found that many employees working at Disneyland’s theme park frequently experience financial difficulties. In fact, about three-quarters of these workers admitted they struggled to meet their monthly living costs, as reported by the Disney Workers Rising coalition, an organization representing approximately 14,000 workers across Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and Disney hotels.

With these latest agreements, most Disneyland union workers are now set to make over the current California state minimum wage of $16 an hour. On the other hand, fast food employees in California currently receive $20 per hour.

Simultaneously at Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, around 45,000 union members accepted a deal for a minimum wage of $18 per hour. This is set to increase by approximately 37% over the next five years, reaching its peak in 2026.

Disney’s theme park sector is widely recognized as one of the company’s most lucrative and thriving divisions. It’s intriguing to observe how these latest labor agreements may influence ticket prices at the parks. While industry analysts doubt that increased costs will lead to a rise in admission fees, it’s plausible that Disney might seek compensation elsewhere within its theme park operations instead.

Last year, Disney announced plans to lay off 7,000 employees in an effort to cut costs.

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2024-07-31 07:27

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