Universal Studios Hollywood is facing growing labor unrest.
Theme park workers have repeatedly pushed major entertainment companies for higher wages and stronger protections. Their jobs can involve long outdoor shifts, extreme heat, large crowds, and physically demanding work, particularly during busy seasonal events.
Labor disputes have previously led to major action at Disney parks. Roughly 2,000 Disneyland employees walked out for 22 days in 1984, while workers at the Anaheim resort voted 99% to authorize another strike in July 2024 before reaching a deal.
Now, workers at Universal Studios Hollywood are reportedly becoming more willing to strike as contract negotiations continue without an agreement.
Employees have begun wearing buttons protesting “poverty wages” inside the California theme park, according to a recent guest report shared on Reddit.
Workers Escalate Their Union Campaign
Universal Studios Hollywood team members have been negotiating with the company since November 2025.
A guest who recently visited the park said employees’ union messages had become noticeably more direct.
“I've seen ‘We are not your minions', ‘Don’t be a Grinch', and ‘Universal runs on union power' for months now,” the guest wrote (via Reddit). “Suddenly, I’m seeing ones that say ‘No more poverty wages', so I figured things must have gotten worse if they stepped away from the cutesy messaging.”
The guest also claimed that more workers were considering industrial action as negotiations continued.
“Apparently, Universal is being horrible to them in bargaining, and strike sentiment is growing.”
No strike has been formally announced. However, employees represented by UNITE HERE Local 11 and IATSE Local 192 have held several public demonstrations since talks began.
Earlier this year, workers marched through Universal CityWalk, the shopping and dining district attached to Universal Studios Hollywood.
The demonstration focused partly on proposed protections involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“UNITE HERE Local 11 and IATSE Local 192 have proposed contract language that would ensure that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not voluntarily allowed onto the Universal hill and backlot, and that NBCUniversal publicly condemns the use of violence, militarized tactics, or intimidation by ICE or other federal agencies against individuals, workers, or families,” UNITE HERE Local 11 said in a statement.
“NBCUniversal has not agreed to these proposed protections.”
Workers held another rally in June, calling on Universal to support employee rights and agree to a stronger union contract.
The rally also highlighted Universal’s investment in Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a new roller coaster set to open at the park this year (presuming it can overcome its noise complaints issue).
Union members pointed to the attraction’s cost while arguing that Universal should spend more on the employees responsible for operating the resort.
The dispute centers on pay, workplace protections and the terms of the next contract. Workers have not publicly confirmed when a strike vote could take place or whether a walkout has been scheduled.
Halloween Horror Nights Puts Pressure on Universal
The threat of labor action comes as Universal Studios Hollywood prepares for one of its busiest periods of the year.
Halloween Horror Nights begins September 3 and runs on select nights through November 1. The separately ticketed event transforms the park with haunted houses, scare zones, the Terror Tram and live entertainment.
This year’s confirmed haunted houses include attractions based on Sinners, Stranger Things 5 and Hellraiser.
Halloween Horror Nights relies on a large workforce across entertainment, attractions, food service, security, retail and guest operations.
A strike during the event could theoretically affect staffing as Universal attempts to manage large nighttime crowds alongside its regular daytime operations.
The approaching event could also increase pressure on the company to reach an agreement before September.
What do you think of workers taking action at Universal Studios Hollywood?
