The Teamsters union authorized their members to strike The Walt Disney Company at the company’s California theme park, Disneyland, and this is a historic moment in the company’s history that has only occurred a handful of times in the past.
Sleeping Beauty Castle in 2019 after refurbishment. Photo Credit: CrispyCream27, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Teamsters announced on X at the end of last week that 99% of its members authorized a strike after the two sides have failed to come to an agreement with The Walt Disney Company over “higher wages, better benefits, fair attendance policies, seniority rights, safer working conditions, and greater respect on the job.”
David Hernandez, a monorail operator and Local 495 shop steward stated, “We are fed up with being pushed around by Disney and are ready to fight back against its unfair labor practices. Disney believes it can bully us into accepting a subpar contract by violating our rights, but they are wrong. We are united, strong, and prepared to strike to secure the fair contract we deserve.”
Teamsters at @Disneyland have overwhelmingly voted by an overwhelming 99 percent to authorize a strike!
The decisive vote is a direct response to @Disney executives’ refusal to negotiate in good faith and the company’s numerous unfair labor practices.
In California, 6,000 of… pic.twitter.com/we97J2I2gj
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) July 20, 2024
READ: 99% Of Disneyland Cast Members Vote To Authorize Strike
With the Teamsters authorizing their Disneyland Resort members to go on strike, it’s important to look at just what an uncommon event this might be.
Let’s take a look at times when Disneyland was either closed or interrupted by similar situations. For the purposes of this mini-history, natural disasters, diseases and voluntary closures are being removed. What remains are times that Disneyland has either closed (or been heavily disrupted) via unions, cast members, Southern California sociopolitical environments or other similar events.
Mickey walks down Main Street USA at Disneyland. (Credit: Mortimer Productions)
Just so you can see how rare this is… take a look at the list:
Yippie Invasion (1970): On August 6, 1970, Disneyland faced an unexpected closure due to an invasion by the Yippies (Youth International Party). The group staged a protest inside the park, leading to clashes with security and police. The situation escalated, resulting in the early closure of the park that day to ensure the safety of guests and cast members. Often unmentioned is that some number of cast members were sympathetic and may have been integral in allowing the invasion and protests to occur.
1984 Strike: One notable closure due to labor disputes happened in 1984 when Disneyland faced a major strike by its unionized workers. Cast members, including ride operators, performers, and maintenance staff, walked out in protest of working conditions and wages. The strike led to a partial closure of the park for several days. Negotiations between Disney management and the unions eventually led to a resolution, but the event highlighted the importance of labor relations in the operation of the park.
Radiator Springs at Disneyland Resort’s California Adventure Theme Park
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2003 Hotel Workers’ Strike: In 2003, Disneyland Resort faced disruptions due to a strike by hotel workers at the Disneyland Hotel. The workers, represented by the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE), demanded better wages and working conditions. While the theme parks themselves remained open, the strike affected hotel operations and drew significant media attention to labor issues within the resort.
Black Lives Matter Protests (2020): The Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020 did not lead to a full closure of Disneyland Resort — it was already shuttered for COVID — but it did result in increased security measures and temporary adjustments to operations. The protests underscored the broader social movements impacting businesses across the country, including major tourist destinations like Disneyland. At the time, Disneyland was mostly closed… yet quietly the few cast members stationed at the theme park were often allowed to participate in protests rather than be at the resort.
A photo of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park via Disney Parks blog
In other words, this isn’t common. If Disneyland is closed for the second-time in five years, it speaks to a volatility in our society that was not often seen in the past. After all, it was about thirty years before a foreseeable closure ever occurred at Disneyland from the time it was opened. But that’s the world we live in today.
Additionally, the pain that might be felt by Disney from a strike in this moment is particularly difficult for the company. The stock is down significantly in the last weeks, bringing concerns that a new proxy battle for board seats could be on the near-horizon. The earnings call in early August could actually happen with an ongoing strike sticking it to Burbank leadership.
And perhaps most damaging — although less likely — if the strike actually were to continue to the point of the Disney convention, called D23, one might see a black eye for Disney like very little in the past. After all, D23 is being held literally across the street from Disneyland. Can you imagine picket lines for the most magical convention on Earth?
A photo Avengers Headquarters Disney California Adventure Park via Disney Parks blog
What do you make of the potential for this historic cast member strike?
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