14,000 Disney Cast Members Threaten To Permanently Shut Down Disneyland

Disney’s largest worker union is threatening to permanently shut down the Disneyland Resort if conditions don’t improve for the people who labor every day to ensure the Happiest Place on Earth runs smoothly.

The Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee, which has been protesting workplace conditions and wages for Cast Members for months, has called for a strike authorization vote.

A collective including the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83, the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), the Teamsters Local 495 and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324, totaling over 14,000 Disneyland Cast Members is alleging hundreds of labor violations and extreme, widespread hardship.

Related: Disneyland Unionization Shuts Down Attractions: 2,000 Cast Members Gear Up for Major Protests

Now, if enough Cast Members vote for a strike, Disneyland could be completely shut down with no end in sight. The committee has released a statement saying:

“Our goal for negotiations has always been to reach an agreement with Disney — one that provides cast members with wages they need to live in Southern California, the respect they deserve for the years they’ve dedicated to the company and an attendance policy that works for everyone while keeping park guests safe.

“But instead of working with us toward a fair contract, Disney has engaged in multiple instances of conduct we allege are unfair labor practices, including unlawful discipline and intimidation and surveillance of union members exercising their right to wear union buttons at work. We know these actions are only an attempt to stop us from exercising our rights and saddle us with a contract that perpetuates the status quo at Disney.

“We won’t accept less than what we deserve because we know our value to Disney. The theme parks’ profits come from our hard work making a trip to Disneyland a magical experience for guests. By undermining our rights, Disney has only made harder our fight to help our guests and keep our parks safe, which is why we are compelled to take a vote next week on whether to authorize a strike after our contract expired. With this strike authorization vote, we will ensure Disney hears Disneyland’s cast members’ voices.”

Cast Members working at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Disney hotels began negotiations with the Mouse on April 24, and it seems that things have not been going well.

Inside the Magic has reported that dozens of Cast Members have been fired since negotiations began, and numerous entertainment offerings at the park have been scaled back. Character performers at the park joined with the Actors’ Equity Association on May 18, further solidifying union efforts among workers.

For years, Disney Cast Members at Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando have been demanding higher wages and safer conditions. Many allegedly live in impoverished communities while providing entertainment for millions. While workers have won some victories in recent years, it is seemingly not enough to keep Disneyland from the threat of a shutdown.

The Disneyland union says in a statement:

While Disneyland brands itself as “The Happiest Place on Earth” the reality for park employees is largely one of economic hardship. According to a survey, 73% of the cast members that make these profits possible report they do not earn enough money to cover basic expenses each month. A separate survey of cast members this year found that:

• Nearly three in 10 cast members (28%) report experiencing food insecurity

• 64% of cast members are “rent burdened” or spending more than half of their monthly paychecks on rent

• 33% of cast members experienced housing insecurity in the past year

• 42% of cast members had to miss work for medical treatment because they didn’t have enough sick leave

The Disneyland cast member contract expired on June 16, while the contract for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney will do the same on September 30. The results of the strike authorization vote are expected to be announced on July 20.

Related: Mickey Mouse, Cinderella Push Forward With Official Unionization Over Unfair Pay, Dangerous Living Conditions

If the strike is authorized (and there is very good reason to believe that it will), it will disrupt vacations for potentially millions of Guests and massively impact the economy of Southern California. Disneyland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and brings billions of dollars to the state (and to Disney shareholders) every year, so a shutdown of any duration will wreak havoc on a vast scale.

If you plan to visit Disneyland this summer, you might want to check the refund conditions because things could get complicated very soon.

Inside the Magic reached out to Disney and Disney Workers Rising Bargaining Committee for comment, but has not heard back by the time of publishing.

What do you think of this potential Disneyland shutdown?