Walt Disney World union members overwhelmingly rejected a new contract Wednesday that would given them a raise of at least 50 cents an hour, as some argued they deserved a bigger salary increase.
About 93 percent of dues-paying members who voted turned down the two-year contract. The nearly 10,000 votes cast was the highest turnout in the history of labor votes for the Service Trades Council Union, the coalition of six unions that represents about 36,000 Disney employees, officials said.
Union members cheered and chanted, “Union!” “Fight!” “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” after union leaders announced the election results at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
The next move is for union leaders to regroup in February.
“We’re going to go to the table next year and demand more,” said Jeremy Haicken, president of Unite Here Local 737, to his supporters.
“We are disappointed that the union rejected our fair and reasonable offer of a 6 to 10 percent wage increase over the next two years and we will continue to work with the union on negotiations,” a Disney spokeswoman said in a statement.
Wednesday’s failed deal would have given full-time and part-time Disney employees a 3 percent or a 50-cent raise — whichever was higher — retroactive to Sept. 24 and again in September 2018. Tipped employees were not eligible for the salary increase under the proposal.
Disney also proposed a one-time $200 bonus this year for full-time employees and those who get tips.
“We deserve more than 50 cents,” said Krystle Karnofsky, who is paid $10 hour to work at Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage ride and struggles with a company she loves but that can’t support her financially. “We’re not going to settle.”
Disney has offered signing bonuses this year as incentives for new hires for jobs such as housekeepers and bus drivers.
About 93 percent of dues-paying members who voted turned down the two-year contract. The nearly 10,000 votes cast was the highest turnout in the history of labor votes for the Service Trades Council Union, the coalition of six unions that represents about 36,000 Disney employees, officials said.
Union members cheered and chanted, “Union!” “Fight!” “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” after union leaders announced the election results at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
The next move is for union leaders to regroup in February.
“We’re going to go to the table next year and demand more,” said Jeremy Haicken, president of Unite Here Local 737, to his supporters.
“We are disappointed that the union rejected our fair and reasonable offer of a 6 to 10 percent wage increase over the next two years and we will continue to work with the union on negotiations,” a Disney spokeswoman said in a statement.
Wednesday’s failed deal would have given full-time and part-time Disney employees a 3 percent or a 50-cent raise — whichever was higher — retroactive to Sept. 24 and again in September 2018. Tipped employees were not eligible for the salary increase under the proposal.
Disney also proposed a one-time $200 bonus this year for full-time employees and those who get tips.
“We deserve more than 50 cents,” said Krystle Karnofsky, who is paid $10 hour to work at Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage ride and struggles with a company she loves but that can’t support her financially. “We’re not going to settle.”
Disney has offered signing bonuses this year as incentives for new hires for jobs such as housekeepers and bus drivers.