The Disney company is setting all the wrong records once again, after being forced to pay out a whopping $233 million settlement (the cost of a large Disney movie) to Disneyland workers over a class-action wage theft lawsuit from 2019.
Mickey walks down Main Street USA at Disneyland. (Credit: Mortimer Productions)
READ: Bob Iger Names Walt Disney Company’s New York Headquarters After Himself
The suit in question alleged that the Disney company failed to adjust wages in the wake of an Anaheim ballot proposition called Measure L. It required all companies within California that receive tax rebates from the city to raise their minimum wage to $15 per hour. Disney failed to do so, according to the filing.
Disneyland workers are now entitled to back pay with interest dating back to the start of 2019. This settlement decree hit just as Anaheim is poised to raise the minimum wage again, this time to $20.50 per hour.
Disney approved the preliminary settlement last week. It’s set to be reviewed by a Superior Court judge tomorrow, January 17th. Once approved, the workers will be notified.
Splash Mountain is a ride in Disneyland based on the movie Song of the South. Photo Credit: Cd637 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
READ: Disney World Prepares to Open Polynesian DVC Tower: PR Release Focuses on Sustainability Over Beauty
Disney’s legal defense leaned on a belief espoused by its attornies that the company didn’t have tax rebate agreements with the city of Anaheim. While originally a judge sided with the company, an appellate court reversed the decision, citing a 1996 expansion deal between Disney and Anaheim that led to the creation of Disney’s California Adventure theme park.
Disney attempted to appeal the decision to the California Supreme Court, but the request was denied.
Disneyland workers have been embroiled in an extensive labor campaign against the company which has led to a series of staged protests and demonstrations outside the Disneyland gates. Stories of Disney employees living in their cars on the streets of Anaheim were publicized by Walt Disney’s grandniece, Abigail Disney.
A screenshot showing the exterior of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland – YouTube, Best Life and Beyond
Most recently, Disneyland employees voted to authorize a strike against the company through the Master Services Council, an alliance between four unions that represent “cast members” that work at “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
However, the threatened strike never actually took place. Disney and MSC reached a deal that will see cast members pull in $24 per hour.
Are you glad to see Disney forking over more money to its workers? How do you feel about this settlement over alleged Disneyland Wage theft? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
UP NEXT: World Celebration Ground Lights Restored at EPCOT, Yet Other Area Lighting Goes Awry
How much of that money is actually going towards those that deserve it and not the government involved? That’s a question that needs to be asked whenever any company gets sued and is forced to pay out.
They all suck in this real-world situation.
Burn Disney, burn.
I have no pity for either party in this skirmish. Any trouble for disney is welcomed, however I think I actually despise the people wanting to make $15 an hour to work. Anaheim might be worse than both of them jacking the minimum to ?!? $20 an hour now. Maybe an earthquake can crack this bit off and let it slide into the Pacific.