Disney sued over wages

California workers say park violates minimum wage law

Five Disneyland workers are suing Disney, accusing the company of not obeying Anaheim’s new minimum wage law, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

The employees filed a lawsuit this week that is seeking class-action status.

The lawsuit says Disneyland Resort has violated the requirements of Measure L, which the city of Anaheim passed in 2018.

The ordinance requires all hospitality businesses who get city subsidies to pay employees at least $15 an hour, the lawsuit said.

There is not a similar Florida law for Disney World, which reached an agreement with its union coalition last year that raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour by October 2021.

The five Disneyland workers — a barista for a Starbucks coffee shop on the resort, a hotel bellhop, a cashier, a makeup artist and a banquet event server — reported being paid anywhere from $12 to $14.25 an hour, according to court documents.

The employees allege Disneyland Resort benefits from a city subsidy because Anaheim uses tax dollars to pay off construction bonds for a six-story parking garage at the resort.

“The City of Anaheim gave Disney over $200 million to help finance the construction of California Adventure and a parking garage to serve the new park,” the lawsuit said. “Disney operates it and keeps all the revenues. When all of the construction costs are paid back, Disney will own the garage free and clear.”

A Disney spokeswoman told the Times that “the union coalition is well aware that the [Anaheim] city attorney has previously looked at the issue and clearly stated that Measure L does not apply to the Disneyland Resort.”