Disney World, unions reach contract agreement on pay raises
Walt Disney World and the trades council union representing the largest segment of workers have reached a tentative contract agreement securing an $18 minimum hourly rate by the end of 2023.
“Securing an $18.00 minimum hourly rate this year, increasing the overall economic value of Disney’s original offer, and ensuring full back pay for every worker are the priorities union members were determined to fight for. Today, we won that fight!” Services Trades Council Union President Matt Hollis said in a statement.
The Services Trades Council is made up of six unions that represent 45,000 theme park workers at Disney World.
This means that Disney World will have the highest minimum wage of any theme park operator in the state. Universal increased its minimum wage to $17 earlier this year.
Nearly 14,000 union members voted to reject Disney’s previous offer in February. In that proposal, Disney had offered only a $17 minimum in 2023 and not everyone was going to get full back pay.
Negotiations started in August 2022. Under the tentative agreement, for workers in job classifications that currently earn the minimum of $15, minimum hourly rates will increase to $16 effective Oct. 1, 2022, with full back pay to all eligible union workers, then increase again to $17 upon ratification and $18 this December. Their total raise will be $5.50 in 5 years, with the first $3 coming by December 2023.
The agreement also provides eight weeks of paid Child Bonding Leave, which is a benefit that does not exist in the current contract, and offers increases to many hourly premiums. The minimum rate for current workers will increase to $20.50 by October 2026. The minimum rate for workers hired after December 3, 2023, will increase to $20 by October 2026.
Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort, released the following statement: “Our cast members are central to Walt Disney World’s enduring magic, which is why we are pleased to have reached this tentative agreement. Disney is proud to offer an industry-leading employment package that includes comprehensive benefits and affordable medical coverage, in addition to 100 percent paid tuition for higher education for hourly employees through the Disney Aspire program. With the support of the unions, we anticipate cast members will approve this new agreement.”
According to a statement by Hollis, the six STCU affiliates – IATSE Local 631, IBT Local 385, TCU Local 1908, UFCW Local 1625, UNITE HERE Local 362, and UNITE HERE Local 737 – are unanimous in their support for this agreement and will be recommending their members vote to ratify the agreement. The STCU is scheduling a ratification vote to take place on March 29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will announce the results of the vote at the time.
Workers in many classifications will receive additional increases, with raises retroactive to October 2022:
• Union Housekeepers: increase from $17 to $20 immediately, ending at $24 in Oct. 2026
• Union Dishwashers: increase from $15 to $18 immediately, ending at $22 in Oct. 2026
• Cook 2 (union prep cook): increase from $16.40 to $20 immediately, ending at $24 in Oct. 2026
• Cook 1 (union line cook): increase from $19 to $23.10 immediately, ending at $27.10 in Oct. 2026
• Union Chef Assistant: increase from $20 to $24.60 immediately, ending at $28.60 in Oct. 2026
• Union Bus Drivers: increase from $18 to $20.50 immediately, ending at $24.50 in Oct. 2026
