NEWS: EPCOT Union Cast Members Release New Statement in Support of Disney Springs Workers

There are thousands of Cast Members that work around Disney World.

You’ve got the Cast Members who work at attractions around the parks, those who work behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly, custodial Cast Members, the parking team, the list goes on and on. In the past, we’ve seen Cast Members almost go on strike to fight for contract negotiations, and last year, we saw Disney Springs Cast Members claim unsafe working conditions and look to unionize. Now, EPCOT Union Cast Members have released a new statement in support of the Disney Springs workers, and updating the public about what’s going on.

Recently, a press conference stirred up some controversy between Union Cast Members and Disney. The Patina Group over at Italy Pavilion (who own Tutto Italia & Via Napoli) are unionized and have been for a while.

Currently, it’s planned for contract negotiations between the Patina Group and Disney to happen later this year, but in the meantime, Patina Group workers at Disney Springs and EPCOT have decided to start wearing union buttons to symbolize how they are being treated as second class citizens compared to other Disney Cast Members.

While wearing union buttons is not part of the Disney Cast Member costume, in the United States workers have a right to wear a button. Cast Members haven’t faced any retaliation yet by Disney at this time.

Workers at Disney Springs, however, do not have a union and many claim they lack access to benefits like affordable health insurance, paid vacation, and paid sick days. The restaurants where you may see workers wearing buttons include Tutto Italia Ristorante, Maria and Enzo’s, Enzo’s Hideaway, Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, and The Edison.

Joli Lindsay, a server at The Edison in Disney Springs, said, “When guests visit restaurants at Disney Springs and the Italy Pavilion at EPCOT, they expect
the same Disney Magic and the same Disney experience… but many don’t realize these workers aren’t Disney employees, they don’t have the same benefits, and there is no magic for the Cast Members.”

Unite Here Local 737, the union that represents these (and thousands of other) workers, has released a statement “calling on Patina and Deleware North to provide fair wages, benefits, and protections in the upcoming contract at EPCOT Italy Pavilion, and to agree to a fair process for workers to unionize at Disney Springs.”