There’s been a lot of union news around Disney parks recently, and now we’ve got more for you.
Back in April, Disneyland Cast Members voted to unionize, and in May, Disney Springs employees claimed unfair working conditions at multiple different locations in the shopping and dining district. Now, the Local Union 737 and The Tipped Committee are requesting conversation and changes around tipping and allergy processes in Disney World.
Two demand letters have recently been publicized about the issues. The first is a request from Local Union 737 to speak with Disney Labor Relations about the current guest allergy process in Disney World. Specifically, the letter outlines concerns “about the lack of clarity and consistency in the guest allergy process” for quick service restaurants, table service restaurants, bars, and lounges.
The letter outlines that this lack of clarity not only can result in safety concerns for guests but also unfair discipline of Cast Members. The goal of this meeting is to “establish a fair and clear allergy process that is consistent across property.”
The second letter is titled “The Fight for Tipped Careers at Disney” and is signed by over 50 current full-time and part-time servers, cocktail servers, server assistants, and bartenders around the Walt Disney property. Here are just a few of the changes the letter is requesting:
- Up 18% gratuity on parties of 6 or more to an automatic 20% gratuity to all parties with an additional line if the guest would like to tip more
- Restating again that they’d like to “Negotiate a clear and fair allergy process that is consistent across all locations.”
- Remove unfair server discipline from guest walkouts and complaints when the server is not at fault
- Health insurance for part-time servers/tipped workers
- Negotiate well-defined ratios of server assistants, bartenders, and cocktail servers to avoid overstaffing situations
One of the largest issues raised is that the company has shifted more to an overstaffed, part-time workforce, which is resulting in multiple issues. In 2011, the ratio was that 45% of the tipped workforce was full-time and 55% was part-time. However now, in 2024, 37% of the tipped workforce is full-time and 63% is part-time.
The letter outlines multiple solutions to these issues, and states that while they understand contract negotiations are next scheduled for 2027, the union has stated, “We are not waiting until 2027 contract negotiations to demand what we deserve.”
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on this situation as it progresses, so be sure to stay tuned to AllEars.
What does Disneyland character performers voting to unionize mean? Learn more about it here!
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Automatic 20%? Really? It appears that the workers have forgotten what a tip is. While I usually leave 20%, sometimes more, this would amount to an additional service charge. Perhaps they should be negotiating a pay raise. Good service deserves a tip, poor service does not.
If you are that unhappy, get a different job. There are jobs going begging all over the United States. Leave Orlando and Walt Disney World. Get a different job.