Disney World employees to rally today for higher wages
Disney World employees are expected to hold a rally this afternoon (Oct. 19, 2017) in support for higher wages.
The Service Trades Council Union, which are six unions representing 38,000 employees, is seeking to have the minimum pay at the park be increased to $15 an hour. The minimum pay is currently $10 an hour.
The rally will take place outside of Disney World at 5 p.m. at The Crossroads, the intersection of State Route 535 and Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
In 2014, Disney agreed to increase the starting salary from $8.10 to $10 an hour by 2016.
“Our starting Cast Members currently earn nearly $2 more an hour than Florida’s minimum wage for entry level jobs,” Disney said previously said in a statement. “We will continue to negotiate in good faith with the union to reach a fair and reasonable agreement.”
Disney said that with overtime and premium pay, the average salary is closer to $13.34 an hour.
Disney World is the only unionized theme park in Orlando, but what it pays will have an impact on other hospitality workers due to the size of its workforce.
