Thousands of Disneyland workers vote to strike

LOS ANGELES — Four unions representing more than 14,000 workers at Disney theme parks and resorts in Southern California announced Friday night that their members voted overwhelmingly to strike, citing alleged unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.

The unions announced that thousands of workers at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney shopping center and Disney hotels have authorized a strike.

The authorization does not mean a strike will happen immediately, and both sides could reach a deal that prevents a strike. If a strike does occur, it would be the first at Disneyland in 40 years.

The number of workers who voted was not disclosed, but unions said 99% of participating members voted in favor of a strike.

“This vote shows that Cast Members have had enough!” Aaron Zarate, a Disneyland candy maker who is a member of the employee bargaining committee, said in a statement.

The unions indicated that their members are facing economic problems, such as food and housing insecurity, and have been negotiating on this since April 24.

Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Jessica Good said a strike authorization is “not unusual” during the bargaining process. Negotiations are still scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

“We are deeply grateful to our Cast Members for their important role in creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. We remain committed to reaching an agreement that focuses on what matters most to them and positions Disneyland Resort for growth and jobs,” Good said.

The workers at the center of the labor battle include janitors, ride operators, candy makers and salespeople at the popular amusement park and resort, a major pillar of Southern California’s tourism economy.

On April 24, employees began contract negotiations with the entertainment giant. Nearly two months later, on June 10, Disney employees announced they had filed unfair labor practice charges against the company.

The charges, which involve more than 675 workers, are now being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency that enforces labor laws.

“Rather than working with us to reach a fair contract, Disney has engaged in multiple conduct that we allege constitutes unfair labor practices, including unlawful discipline and intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work,” the Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee said in a statement ahead of the vote.

“We know that these actions are merely an attempt to prevent us from exercising our rights and to saddle us with a contract that maintains the status quo at Disney,” the negotiating committee added.

The relevant union buttons depict a white glove in the style of Mickey Mouse, raised in a fist.

Good said the costumes the cast members wear are “a critical part of enhancing the experience of our Disney show.”

“Anything that distracts from the show or the story, whether it’s an unapproved button, pin or sticker worn by a cast member, would be addressed by a leader,” she said.

In recent years, labor experts have drawn attention to the economic hardships facing workers at Disneyland and other major theme parks across the country.

In early 2018, for example, researchers from Occidental College and the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research group, published a report showing that 74 percent of Disneyland workers were unable to cover basic expenses each month. The report surveyed workers who were homeless, food insecure and faced other challenges.

An internal survey of union members conducted earlier this year found that 28% of Disneyland workers faced food insecurity, 33% said they had suffered from housing insecurity in the past year, and 42% said they were unable to go to work due to medical treatments.

When the strike authorization was announced, the unions reported that 64% of cast members spend more than half their monthly salary on rent.

The four unions representing the workers are Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83; the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW); the Teamsters Local 495; and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324.

The contract for cast members at Disneyland expired on June 16. The contract for cast members at Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney expires on September 30.

The last time there was a strike at Disneyland was in September 1984, when nearly 2,000 workers walked off the job for 22 days.

While the Disney workers’ bargaining committee indicated that negotiations would continue Monday and Tuesday, it said the company’s strike authority allows it to call a strike at any time.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com