Disney World union workers approve contract for $15 minimum wage by 2021

Between whoops and cheers, Disney World union workers in Orlando overwhelmingly approved an agreement with the theme park company to raise the minimum hourly wage to $15 by October 2021.

"We have accomplished historic wage raises," Matt Hollis, president of the Service Trades Council Union, told a boisterous crowd Thursday. "I think the message is clear – Disney workers needed a raise. And thanks to everyone in this room and the thousands of cast members across property who showed up to vote, Disney members got a raise!"

Leaders from the Service Trades Council Union, which represents 38,000 employees among its six unions, say 13,673 workers voted Sept. 5-6 across Disney on the historic contract. Only 116 workers voted against the contract. More than 99 percent of workers – 13,557 votes – were in favor of the agreement negotiated by unions over the past year.

Eric Clinton, president of UNITE HERE Local 362, says he cried on his way to work thinking about the impact the contract would have on every single Disney employee. He's worked for the union for 17 years after starting at $5.95 an hour running The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios.

Read more: https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/09/06/disney-world-union-workers-approve-contract-for-15-minimum-wage-by-2021