Disney union workers OK ‘historic’ contract
KISSIMMEE — Sometimes Lillian Vazquez worked 100 hours a week at Animal Kingdom, arriving before the sun rose and leaving at midnight.
She couldn’t survive without overtime; a regular shift was not enough, so she worked seven days a week.
On Thursday night, Vazquez celebrated with a few hundred union workers as they overwhelmingly approved a new contract that will phase in a $15-an-hour minimum wage by late 2021 and give $1,000 bonuses, which will be taxed and appear in
paychecks starting Sept. 27.
“It’s a beautiful day,” said Vazquez, 48, an attractions worker from Clermont, who was ready to cut back on her brutal schedule.
People shouted, “Sí , se puede!” or “Yes, we can!” and burst into soccer match-style singing before the election results — almost unanimous — were announced at the Park Inn by Radisson in Kissimmee. Out of nearly 13,700 votes, only 116 people voted “No,” union leaders said.
“It’s historic. It’s huge,” said Matt Hollis, the new president of the Service Trades Council Union, a coalition of six locals that represent 38,000 employees at the resort.
Walt Disney World is Central Florida’s largest employer, which has made some question if other large companies, including Universal Orlando Resort, will be pressured to follow suit and raise wages.
“Any tourism company is going to have to increase rates to compete with Disney,” Hollis said. “Disney has set the standard.”
Universal and SeaWorld, which are not unionized, gave their employees a pay raise after Disney and the union last agreed to raise the minimum wage from $8 an hour to $10 by 2016.
For Disney, inking the new contract ends the tense labor talks that have carried on since the summer of 2017.
“Our 50 percent wage increase will have a real, meaningful impact on our cast and their families,” George Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement. “Increasing wages for Cast Members represents a significant investment in Central Florida, and will provide a powerful boost to the local economy.”
During several protests, union workers marched with signs, calling for higher wages, at rallies held outside the theme parks.
The union also unsuccessfully filed a federal unfair labor practice complaint in February, accusing Walt Disney Co. of holding the $1,000 bonuses hostage during the contract negotiations.
Evelyn Sims has worked at Epcot since there was an Epcot.
For the past 36 years, she is on her feet all day as a custodian at the theme park, but she likes her job, especially dancing and making tourists laugh.
Recently, life has been more challenging. At 67, Sims is raising her two grandchildren, ages 2 and 8. Sometimes, she felt the guilt of having to tell them no in the grocery store because she can’t afford it, Sims said.
Her $14.50-an-hour pay would jump $2.50 within the next 180 days under the new contract, said Sims, who planned to take the children shopping with her bonus.
“I’m so happy, I don’t know what to do,” the Orlando woman said. “I want to cry.”
Under the new contract, the $10 minimum wage rises to $11 by December, $13 in September 2019, $14 in October 2020 and finally $15 in October 2021.
Employees whose current pay is above $10 will receive at least $4.75 in raises by October 2021.
Workers also will receive
retroactive pay of 50 cents an hour or 3 percent, whichever is greater, dating as far back as September 2017.
The new contract at Disney
World comes after Disneyland Resort in late July reached a deal with its union to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2019.
The Service Trades Council represents Walt Disney World Resort employees in a variety of jobs such as custodians, attractions workers, housekeepers,
characters and entertainment technicians.