Workers at Disney

Disneyland Workers Struggle with Low Pay and Living Conditions

Disneyland employees are raising their voices over inadequate wages, with some resorting to living in cars and motels. Cynthia “Cyn” Carranza, an overnight custodian at Disneyland, recounted her experiences of living in her car with two dogs due to her $20.65 per hour wage not covering Southern California’s high rent costs.

Ms. Carranza tearfully shared how last summer, she was forced to sneak into Disneyland’s costume department for showers. Though she now shares a small apartment with her boyfriend, also a park employee, the financial strain remains. “That’s not something anybody should experience working a full-time job for a company like Disney,” she told the BBC.

Carranza’s story is not unique. Disneyland’s 10,000 union workers are threatening to strike over wages and alleged anti-union practices. Hundreds of workers recently protested, chanting, “Mickey would want fair pay,” as they held signs featuring a defiant Mickey Mouse. Nearly unanimously, the workers authorized strike action, providing leverage as union contract negotiations resume.

The contract for Disneyland’s cast members expired on June 16, and negotiations involve unions representing nearly 10,000 employees, from characters and ride operators to sales, restaurant, and janitorial workers. Union officials report that about 10% of Disneyland cast members have experienced homelessness while working at the park, with 73% unable to cover basic expenses each month and about a third facing housing insecurity within the last year.

“We’re the ones who make the magic,” said L. Slaughter, a host in the park’s Toontown-themed area. She described her two years living in her car while working at Disneyland. Despite moving into a small apartment, rising rent continues to be a challenge. Slaughter, earning $19.90 per hour due to a city-mandated minimum wage increase, still finds it difficult to survive in Southern California.

A living wage calculator from MIT indicates that a single person without children needs $30.48 per hour to live near Disneyland in Orange County. Workers stay for the love of Disney and the generous healthcare benefits and union-operated food bank, which some describe as essential.

Disney stated its commitment to negotiations with its “cast members,” acknowledging their role in creating happiness for guests. The company’s statement emphasized the ongoing talks to reach a deal that benefits current cast members and attracts new ones, while positioning Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation.

The last Disneyland strike in 1984 lasted 22 days. Ms. Carranza described the demanding work she does nightly at the park and how her dogs kept her going during her lowest points living in her car. Despite now having a small studio apartment, she still struggles to make ends meet, often affording only rice or noodles.

Although workers’ demands are economic, the strike vote was also a response to alleged disciplinary actions against workers wearing union badges and distributing union information. In June, unions filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Disney for “unlawful discipline, intimidation, and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work.”

Colleen Palmer, a negotiator from Local UFCW 324 and a 37-year Disneyland employee, recounted how management instructed her to remove her union badge. Palmer highlighted the pay gap between workers and Disney executives, noting Disney CEO Bob Iger’s $31.6 million compensation in 2023.

The disparity between workers’ pay and executive salaries has fueled labor unrest across the U.S., with CEO compensation rising 1,460 percent from 1978 to 2021. Disneyland, often considered a career for many, provides perks like free park admission but lacks flexibility during family crises or illness. Workers often juggle second and third jobs due to unpredictable schedules.

Morgan, who lived in motels around Disneyland for four years with his children, shared his pride in working at Disneyland despite the hardships. Now with a second job and stable housing, he emphasized the importance of respecting workers enough to pay them a living wage. “Without us, Disney would be like anywhere else,” he said.

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