Disney workers in Southern California overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike after the unions representing them accused the company of unfair labor practices during ongoing contract negotiations.

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324, one of four unions that together represent 14,000 workers at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels, said in a statement late Friday that 99 percent of the coalition’s members who voted backed a strike. It did not reveal how many members took part in the vote.

The decision does not necessarily mean that workers will go on strike but provides the option to do so if further talks fail. UFCW Local 324 said the unions are set to meet with Disney again on Monday and Tuesday, adding that “a strike is always a last resort.”

“We greatly appreciate the important roles our cast members play in creating memorable experiences for our guests,” Disneyland said in a statement, “and we remain committed to reaching an agreement that focuses on what matters most to them while positioning Disneyland Resort for growth and job creation.”

The company added that the strike authorization “is not unusual as part of a negotiations process” and said that Disneyland Resort “continues to welcome guests.”

On Wednesday, more than 1,000 union members held a rally outside the entrance to Disneyland Resort, according to a union statement.

“We’re make the magic for guests,” Dee Dee Miranda, a candymaker at Disneyland and a member of the bargaining committee, said in the statement. “We are the ones to provide them with a once in a lifetime experience. It’s time for Disney to value what we do.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/07/20/disneyland-vote-strike-unions-california/