Credit: Disney WeddingsDisney just successfully crushed a union uprising on its property using some legal wrangling and massaging some contract language to avoid a shutdown that could have shut down several restaurants at Disney World. However, that has not gotten its workers closer to a contract or a much-needed pay raise.
Earlier this year, workers at EPCOT’s Italy Pavilion began negotiating a new contract with the Patina Group, the third party that runs Tutto Italia, Via Napoli, and Tutto Gusto at the pavilion. The workers’ contract expired on September 30, and their union, Unite Here Local 737, voted to authorize a strike, which would have shut down the popular EPCOT restaurants.
This would have been the first-ever strike by food service employees at Disney World. However, this would have also been a source of embarrassment for Disney and cost them money.
Disney brought in an independent arbitrator to settle this dispute to avoid the potential strike. However, the neutral arbitrator argued that any strike by Disney workers on Disney’s property would violate the agreement between Disney and the Local 737 and five other unions that comprise the Services Trade Council Union. So, despite the fact that the workers at the Italy Pavilion are not employed by Disney, the arbitrator argued that their strike would violate Disney’s contracts with other unions that prohibit strikes.
Jeremy Haicken, president of Unite Here Local 737, told Orlando Weekly, “The arbitrator ruled that Patina Group employees cannot strike. We encourage guests to dine at Patina restaurants and tell the company you support the workers when you eat there. The fight is moving forward.”
According to Orlando Weekly, the restaurant workers at the Italy Pavilion were seeking an $8 raise over the next three years, a pension plan, affordable health insurance, and an automatic 20 percent gratuity on all customer bills. During their last five-year contract, workers at the EPCOT area made between $18.50 and $26.48 an hour, depending on their position within the restaurants.
Local 737 confirmed that the workers at the EPCOT Pavilion will not strike and are continuing to negotiate a new contract with the Patina Group.
What do you think of Disney World not allowing workers on its property to strike for a new contract? Let us know in the comments.