Around 14,000 cast members at Disneyland will take a strike authorization vote next week.
Four unions representing the cast members scheduled the vote after filing labor charges against Disneyland in May.
The big picture: The cast members include food and commercial workers employed throughout the theme park resort. They have been negotiating a new contract with Disney, seeking wage increases, safety improvements, and more.
- The unions involved are the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 83, the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West, the Teamsters Local 495, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324.
Flashback: In May, the union representatives filed unfair labor practice charges against Disney on behalf of the 14,000 cast members, citing unlawful discipline, intimidation, and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work.
- The National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating the charges.
Driving the news: The current contract for Disneyland cast members expired on June 16, 2024, and for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney cast members, it expires on September 30, 2024.
- The voting results regarding the strike authorization are expected to be announced by July 20.
- Negotiations between Disneyland Resort and Master Services Council, representing 14,000 cast members, began in late April 2024. The contract expired on June 16, with the Master Services Council declining to enter into a contract extension. The next meeting is scheduled for July 22.
- The latest strike authorization comes during Disneyland’s busy summer season and after Disneyland cast members expressed their intent to unionize in February, marking the first strike since a 22-day major strike in 1984.
