Cast Member unions recently entered back into negotiations with Disney after officially rejecting the company’s latest contract offer.
Negotiations resumed on February 15th, and now one union group has shared an update.
After 96% of union Cast Members rejected Disney’s latest contract offer, the two parties came together again to try to work out a deal. The unions have argued for wage increases, saying that members need bigger raises sooner because of cost-of-living increases in Central Florida.
According to Disney, its latest offer would have provided 30,000 Cast Members with a pay increase that amounted to “nearly a 10% average” and would have been retroactive back to October 1st.
Additionally, it would have stipulated that union Cast Members make at least $5 more than the minimum wage in Florida, which is $11. However, housekeepers, bus drivers, and culinary Cast Members would have been paid at least $20 per hour immediately.
But, that offer was rejected, and after meeting again on February 15th, it looks like Disney and the unions have still not come to an agreement. Unite Here Local 362, a Cast Member union, shared an update via Twitter saying that Disney has not increased its wage proposal.
The statement also says, “Disney’s proposal today reduced retroactive pay for thousands of workers” and that it was “worse” than the company’s previous offer. You can read the full statement below:
Statement on today’s bargaining with @WaltDisneyWorld management. #DisneyWorkersNeedaRaise pic.twitter.com/Hm6on3b5gF
— UNITE HERE! Local 362 (@UNITEHERE362) February 16, 2023
Though the negotiations were supposed to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, Spectrum News reported that a source told them the union leaders would NOT be returning to negotiation with Disney on Thursday.
Disney Spokesperson Andrea Finger shared, “We’ve provided the union with options that would set all non-tipped cast members on a path to $20 an hour and provide opportunities for immediate increases, and we look forward to continuing discussions.”
Disney also pointed out that they’ve provided a contract option that would accelerate wage increases for many Cast Members and bring all current non-tipped Cast Members up to at least $17 an hour. Disney also pointed out that many wages would increase to $20 an hour during the first year.
We will continue to look for updates and let you know what we find. Stay tuned to AllEars for the latest.
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I have just returned from WDW (Boardwalk Villas). And two things stood out for me . First was the incredible dedication of every Disney employee I encountered. We did not have a single bad experience with any cast member. From the bottom to the top of the pay scale it was all the same. Try finding that at any other place you go where you have to interact with people. Second: I was very saddened when I went into the coffee shop inside the Boardwalk and when I paid for my coffee, I told the cast member to keep the change for the tip jar. She told me “We are not allowed to accept any tips. You can leave it, but it will “go to the Mouse-not to any of us”” . I go to a coffe shop where I live and I always leave a tip. And every Dunkin Donuts has a tip cup at the register. These folks at Disney don’t make enough to live on. Why can’t they have an opportunity to accept VOLUNTARY tips to increase their pay? It may not look good that their employees have their hands out. But, for crying out loud, let’s not create a facade that these people, who always provide outstanding service, don’t need the money.