Starting Pay Will Increase to $13 in 2019, $15 in 2021

[ORLANDO, Fl.] The six labor unions representing 38,000 service employees at Walt Disney World have reached an historic contract settlement that will raise starting pay from $10 to $15. The union raises will bring an estimated $1 billion influx of additional wages into the Central Florida economy over the term of the four-year contract.

“These union raises will be life-changing for the women and men who welcome millions of tourists to Walt Disney World,” said Matt Hollis, president of the Service Trades Council Union. “Now, money that tourists spend here in Central Florida will stay here, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into local small businesses.”

While wages have stagnated nationally despite the economic recovery, the union raises at Disney World will set a new standard for workers and employers across the region. After the Unions and Disney agreed to raise minimum pay from $8 to $10 in 2014, other non-union employers, like Universal, announced similar raises to match the union standard set at Disney. The new union increase from $10 to $15 will create a ripple effect as employers raise wages to keep employees in a tight labor market.

“These union raises at Disney World will benefit everyone in Central Florida,” said Jeremy Haicken, secretary treasurer of the Service Trades Council Union. “Disney did the right thing by raising wages. Living wages mean Cast Members will spend more locally on school supplies and clothes for their kids, drive more dependable cars, and go out to eat in local restaurants. These union raises are for everyone!”

After nine months of talks centered on pay raises, in May 2018 Disney proposed significant pay increases in exchange for changes in work rules. In the new agreement, the Unions agreed to no major concessions.

The new contract will raise the minimum pay to $11 in December 2018, to $12 in March 2019, to $13 in September 2019, to $14 in October 2020, and to $15 in October 2021. Employees whose current pay is above $10 will receive at least $4.75 in raises by October 2021, with $2.50 within the first six months. The new agreement will end on October 1, 2022. Members of the six affiliated Unions will vote on the new agreement on September 5 and 6.

The Service Trades Council Union is comprised of the following six unions:

IATSE Local 631: Costuming/Cosmetology, Entertainment Technicians
UFCW Local 1625: Merchandise, Banquets
TCU Local 1908: Monorails, Watercraft, Lifeguards, Bell Persons and Various Resort Cast Members
IBT Local 385: Busses, Laundries, Characters, Parking, Ranch
UNITE HERE Local 362: Custodial, Attractions, Vacation Planners
UNITE HERE Local 737: Housekeeping, Food & Beverage

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