Walt Disney World’s largest union collective, the Service Trades Council Union (STCU) who represent over 45,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members, has announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with Disney on a new contract for Walt Disney World Cast Members.
STCU President Matt Hollis made the announcement today, Thursday, March 23 that they have reached a tentative agreement with Disney to bring Cast Members to $18 per hour by the end of this year.
All six STCU unions are unanimous in their support of the agreement and will now recommend workers vote to approve the agreement, with a vote taking place next Wednesday. March 29, 2023.
If cast members vote to accept the deal, the hourly increases will go into effect immediately, with retroactive pay backdated to October 2022.
For Cast Members that currently earn $15 per hour, retroactive pay to October 2022 will be at $16 per hour. The rate will immediately increase to $17 per hour when the deal is ratified.
Rate will then increase again to $18 per hour in December.
According to the union, Walt Disney World Cast Members that are making the minimum wage currently, this contract provides over 36% general wage increases over the life of the agreement.
Every Cast Member will receive a raise of between $5.50 and $8.60 by the end of the contract which runs through October 2026, with the first $3 coming this year.
In addition to the pay increase, the deal also includes 8 weeks of paid Child Bonding Leave, a benefit that is not included in the current contract.
The negotiations date back to August 2022, and it has been 535 days since Disney World Cast Members last received a raise.
Contract negotiation between unions representing Walt Disney World Cast Members and Walt Disney World have been at stalemate for several weeks following a breakdown in talks between the two sides.
Only last week the Service Trades Council Union organized a “Rally For A Raise” in the shadow of Cinderella's Castle at the Reams Road entrance to Walt Disney World, on March 16.
Then earlier today, the Service Trades Council Union announced a hastily organised press conference at 5 pm teasing an "Important Disney Union Announcement."
The meeting which was streamed live on social media channels took place outside the Wyndham Orlando Resort, where union representatives made the announcement.
The last time that the two sides came face to face following an overwhelming 96% rejection of Walt Disney World’s offer to gradually raise wages to $20 over the next few years by cast members in a ballot organised by the Service Trades Council Union, who represent more than 45,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members, the talks came to nothing.
At the negotiations, union representatives revealed that Disney had returned to the table with a WORSE offer than the one that Cast Members had rejected.
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