ORLANDO, Fla. – A Disney workers’ union is expected to reject the company’s wage offer during a vote next week, according to a release by the union.
In the release, union spokespeople said that all six unions in the Service Trade Council Union — which represents 45,000 workers — are recommending that members vote no on Disney’s newest contract proposal.
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Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said the proposal includes the following terms:
- $20 per hour wage for full-time, non-tipped STCU roles during the contract’s term
- Wages for full-time, non-tipped cast members will remain at least $5 above Florida’s minimum wage each year
- 8 weeks paid child bonding for eligible full-time cast
- Nearly 10% average pay increase during the first year
- Immediate minimum $20 per hour wage for select roles, including housekeeping, bus drivers and culinary staff
- Retroactive pay increase for cast members dating back to October 2022, starting at a minimum of $700 for cast members working 40 hours per week
“This very strong offer provides our cast members with a nearly 10% average increase immediately and guarantees raises for the next four years with every single non-tipped cast member promised at least a $20 starting wage during the contract, and the majority seeing a 33% to 46% (increase) during that time,” Finger said.
According to STCU, however, the proposed raises would grant a $1 per year increase to wages for most workers, but that increase wouldn’t be enough to pay for many workers’ cost-of-living expenses.
“Rent and other expenses have skyrocketed, leaving workers in a state of emergency,” a union spokesperson wrote. “This offer leaves behind a clear majority of the workforce and would offer only a $1 raise to over 30,000 cast members.”
STCU President Matthew Hollis said that the rising level of inflation would eclipse that raise, putting many cast members in jeopardy.
“(Disney highlighted) that some workers would be getting more than a dollar in the first year, which the union views as essentially a method to divide and conquer,” Hollis said.
STCU members are expected to hold the vote on the contract proposal on Feb. 2-3.
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