![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blogmickey.com/2024/09/disney-world-cast-member-union-third-party-restaurant-jobs-at-disney-springs-are-second-class/&media=https://blogmickey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/disney-springs-welcome-sign-marketplace-april-2024-1-scaled.jpg&description=Unite Here Local 737 released a report calling jobs at third-party dining locations within Disney Springs "second class" jobs){kind=link}
In a press conference earlier today, Unite Here Local 737 released a report calling jobs at third-party dining locations within Disney Springs “second class” jobs due to a lack of benefits when compared to Disney Cast Members. As you may know, many dining locations at Disney Springs are owned and operated by third-party companies that lease space from Disney but are otherwise not affiliated with Walt Disney World. Now, Local 737 is calling for the same benefits afforded to Walt Disney World employees to extend to third-party employees at Disney Springs dining locations as well.
“Second Class” Jobs at Disney Springs
Local 737 says that they conducted a survey of 69 workers of Disney subcontractors at 18 locations at Disney Springs and disclosed the following “key findings”:
- 59% work part-time (31% of 737 members are part-time)
- 46% have no health insurance at all (full-time 737 members are eligible for health insurance)
- 19% have health insurance through their third-party employer
- 28% receive paid sick time (100% of 737 members have paid sick time)
- 28% receive paid vacation time (69% of 737 members have paid vacation time)
It’s worth noting that the “key findings” listed above are only representative of the 69 employees surveyed at 18 locations. There are more than 50 third-party restaurants, bars, and food service locations at Disney Springs.
Earlier this year, workers at Patina Group-owned locations such as The Edison, Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, and more announced intentions to unionize with Local 737. The April 2024 announcement was the first action from any third-party employees at Disney Springs locations to form a union. As of today’s announcement Local 737 does not represent any subcontracted workers at Disney Springs.
Third-party workers who spoke at today’s press conference were all from Delaware North (Patina Group) dining locations, but Local 737 is calling for better benefits for all third-party employees at Disney Springs. Employees said that wages at their third-party jobs are lower than similar jobs through Disney. Employees also said that they are not offered health insurance through their third-party jobs.
Jeremy Haicken, president of Local 737, said that the union will fight to make sure that workers at third-party locations in Disney Springs will no longer have “second class” jobs and that they will be able to enjoy the same benefits as the 19,000 Cast Members under the union who have “the best jobs in the Orlando hospitality market”. Haicken said that it was “absolutely unacceptable that there is a second class of workers doing the same work, right on the same property”.
Walt Disney World did not respond to a request for comment.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!