Disney Union Announces “Rally For a Raise”

For months, The Walt Disney Company has been battling some of its Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members over wages paid at The Most Magical Place on Earth. Cast Members have been consistently asking for higher wages as inflation and the cost of living have continued to go up. Disney currently has a starting wage of $15 for most Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members, and, while that is higher than Florida’s minimum wage of $11, Cast Members say that it isn’t enough.

Local unions have been attempting to negotiate with Disney, asking them to raise wages to a minimum of $18 per hour. Disney, on the other hand, wants to keep wages at $15 per hour, but will raise them by $1 per year until its minimum wage is $20 per hour. Cast Members say that, because of the cost of living in the Orlando area, $15 is just not enough. Disney has refused to go any higher than what it has offered and negotiations have come to a complete standstill, with Cast Members voting to reject the over.

Now, according to reports, a local union has organized “Rally For a Raise”, which will take place near Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park. Specifically, the rally will take place across from Cast Member parking for the Magic Kingdom. Per Gotta Go Orlando:

Now the Service Trades Council Union has announced a “Rally For A Raise” in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle at the Reams Road entrance to Walt Disney World, located close to West Clock Cast Parking, where Magic Kingdom Cast Members park while working.

The “Rally For A Raise” is set to take place March 16 at 5 pm.

In announcing the “Rally For A Raise” on social media, the union states that they are prepared to meet for negotiations whenever Disney is ready to give Cast Members $18 minimum in 2023, and full retroactive pay back to October 2022.

This is not the first time that Disney has been criticized for its low wages for theme park Cast Members. Disneyland Cast Members have actually sued Disney, claiming that they are legally obligated to pay a living wage. Some of those same Cast Members have also said that, because of their low wages, they have experienced food insecurity and homelessness. The minimum wage in California is $15.50 per hour, but the Golden State has a much higher cost of living than Florida.

According to the living wage calculator, one adult living on their own in Orange County, Florida — where Disney World is located — and working full time must make at least $18.85 in order to support themselves. That is, if they have no children. Should the person have a child, that minimum wage needs to increase to $36.63 per hour. That means that, should Cast Members only make $15 per hour, they do not make enough to be able to afford to live on their own, pay their bills, and afford food.