Movies

Disneyland workers vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike

BBG News

As a seasoned movie buff and theme park enthusiast, I have spent countless hours immersing myself in the magical worlds of Disneyland and its sister parks around the globe. The recent news that Disneyland employees have voted to authorize a potential strike has left me both saddened and concerned.

Disneyland staff have strongly approved going on strike for the first time in four decades at Anaheim’s theme park, marking a significant labor action.

Nearly all members of the Master Services Council, a union coalition including custodians, ride attendants, candy sellers, and merchandise assistants at Disneyland, endorsed a strike with a 99% approval rate during their meeting on Friday.

Due to the current circumstances, union representatives can opt for organizing a strike should productive contract talks with Disney fail.

The union team asserted in a public statement that they refused to be intimidated or watched over by Disney, and would not accept unlawful disciplinary actions against their members for expressing their rights.

In the memo, it’s stated that “A strike is our final option,” and we’ve pledged to resume negotiations on Monday and Tuesday with sincere intentions.

Disneyland’s agreement with its employees ended on June 16. The Master Services Council arranged for a vote on striking more recently. Since 1984, Disneyland workers have not held a significant protest. That previous strike continued for 22 days.

Disneyland’s spokesperson, Jessica Good, expressed her gratitude in a statement for the significant contributions of our cast members in crafting cherished moments for our visitors. We are dedicated to striking a deal that prioritizes their concerns while propelling Disneyland Resort forward, leading to expansion and employment opportunities.

As a movie buff, I’d put it this way: “The Master Services Council hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary with their strike date authorization during negotiations. I’m excited for our next meetings on July 22 and 23, where we’ll keep talking things through. No strike has been set yet, and Disneyland Resort remains open, welcoming guests as always.”

In June, the Master Services Council lodged complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Disney was intimidating staff by threatening disciplinary action for wearing union badges on the job. The labor tensions between workers and the company grew more intense as a result.

The Master Services Council insists that Disney employees are allowed to wear Mickey Mouse fist-raising buttons as a form of union expression, which Disney cannot penalize them for. Disney, on the other hand, claims these pins go against their dress code and argues that only a few instances of repeated wearing have resulted in disciplinary measures, starting with a verbal warning.

Approximately 14,000 Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney employees are in ongoing negotiations for new contracts. Their primary goals include securing living wage adjustments in light of Southern California’s cost of living, recognizing senior staff with well-deserved raises, enhancing safety protocols, and implementing modifications to the company attendance policy.

Disney has announced that Disneyland will stay open and be prepared to receive visitors even if an unspecified number of employees decide to go on strike.

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2024-07-22 23:38

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