Workers At Disneyland Are Forced To Sleep In Cars Because Of Low Wages

Workers at Disneyland face severe economic hardship, with low wages and high rents keeping many sleeping in their cars. This situation allows unionized workers to consider strike action for fair wages and better working conditions. Disneyland patron Cynthia “Sin” Carranza faced a daily struggle last summer: Sitting in her car with two dogs that were beyond her responsibility to clean and maintain the magic of the park, Carranza, who earns $20.65 an hour, could not afford rent in Southern California’s affordable housing market. Where the average rent exceeds $2,000 per month “That’s not something anyone working full-time at a company like Disney should have to experience,” Carranza tearfully told the BBC. She now lives in a small apartment with her boyfriend, who is also a Disneyland employee but they still find it hard to make ends meet. Carranza’s story echoes many other Disneyland employees who talk about their financial challenges. About 10,000 workers who have worked at Disneyland are considering a strike over what they describe as inadequate wages and action to retaliate against union activity Last week, hundreds of workers rallied on the street, chanting slogans such as “Mickey wants a fair wage.” They recently voted overwhelmingly to allow a strike if their concerns are not addressed in ongoing negotiations.

Industry representatives report that a significant proportion of Disneyland employees face unstable housing, and nearly one in ten experiences homelessness while working at the park A survey found that 73% of employees struggle to basic expenses paid every month, despite their critical role in maintaining the park’s ongoing operations El Slaughter, a host at the park, told the story of living in her car for two years before finding a cabin, a story shared by many others who endure long commutes and financial pressure due to low wages issue Disneyland, which employs workers in roles ranging from character designers to supervisors, is negotiating after producers contracts expired in mid-June The company has expressed commitment to a deal that will save n ‘staff contributions have been atomized to ensure the park’s continued success. Disney spokespersons emphasized the importance of filmmakers and promised to attract new talent by looking after their needs. But workers argue their wages and cost of living have not kept pace, arguing that even with the minimum wage increase to $19.90 an hour, many still struggle to meet necessities.

The union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Disney of unfair labor practices, including disciplining employees for wearing union badges and handing out employee products Colleen Palmer, a 37-year labor and union negotiator at Disneyland, was pointing to the stark pay gap between employees and top executives. Disney CEO Bob Iger’s $31.6 million compensation in 2023 is in stark contrast to the hourly wage of park employees. “It makes me think, why don’t you want to feature me? Because I earn you that money,” Palmer said, expressing frustration at the lack of recognition and fair wages for workers who create the street magic Despite the challenges, many employees remain dedicated to their roles, driven by their love for the Disney brand and the community it inspires. They benefit from perks such as free parks for family and friends and generous health care. However unpredictable policies and low wages force many to take on other jobs to survive. The threat of a strike is the first major labour dispute at Disneyland since 1984 and highlights the ongoing crisis of income inequality and job security in one of America’s most iconic workplaces plant.

The company celebrated its 100th anniversary – and there’s plenty to remember. Over the past century, the company has grown into one of the largest publicly traded media and entertainment companies in the world, with a market cap of more than $150 billion But the future of House of Mouse hangs in the balance as the company still struggles with an unprofitable streaming service, an ongoing actors’ strike, declining attendance at Disney World Resort in Central Florida, legal battles with Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and uncertainty surrounding CEO succession planning. Disney’s stock of about $84 per share is at its lowest level in nearly a decade. Of CNN is up 18%. Like competitors, Disney faces an uncertain media landscape as viewers increasingly tune in for linear TV-related entertainment that isn’t dominated by Big Media, which includes TikTok and YouTube but has some serious misses box office, notably Disney has been hurt by the fallout and questions about how to replace its declining cash cow, ESPN, among other things. The company cut its streaming losses by adding 7 million core Disney+ subscribers. However, Iger announced significant cost-cutting at the company.

Hugh Johnston, Chief Financial Officer took over as Disney’s CFO, in May before longtime Disney chief executive Christine McCarthy announced earnings that will fill a quiet hiatus period for when Disney did not respond to a request for comment. It’s no secret that the linear TV industry is struggling, and Disney’s problems with traditional TV almost certainly affect the U.S. as well. All other leading media companies Last quarter, Disney’s linear television revenue continued to decline, down 7% from the same quarter last year. But Iger pointed to plans to raise money for Disney’s linear assets including ABC, Disney Channel, FX and National Geographic, through potential sales “While linear is more profitable for Disney today, the trends provided by cord cutting are unmistakable,” Iger said in August. “As I mentioned earlier, we’re doing a lot of thinking and we’re considering options.” ESPN is a hot spot in Disney’s traditional media portfolio, continuing to draw sports fans to cable TV. In a recent note to clients, Bank of America’s Jessica Reif Ehrlich called ESPN “the glue that can hold the value of the cable bundle.” But as cord-cutting increases, viewership decreases. That’s why Ehrlich added that ESPN needs to accelerate the transition to streaming because fewer people will pay for traditional TV sports licenses and fees.