Unite Here Local 737 is turning up the heat and continuing a fight for the establishment of a union for third-party restaurant workers at Disney Springs. A recent press conference from the union highlighted an alleged case of sexual harassment by a manager at Pizza Ponte in Disney Springs, which is a third-party establishment owned and operated by Patina Restaurant Group. Multiple employees came forward to report sexual harassment by the manager, but no action was taken against the manager.
Instead, one of the employees was fired for having a single earbud in her ear. The employee who was fired had previously attended rallies to call for Patina Restaurant Group to allow employees to organize a union. The highlighted story was used by Unite Here as an example of how employees at third-party locations within Disney Springs could benefit from the creation of a union.
Unite Here Local 737 workers and prospective union members were joined by State Representative Anna Eskamani, who has often championed Disney workers through the years. Eskamani said that she wanted to be present to show Patina Restaurant Group that the workers have the support of local elected officials. Eskamani underlined the fact that guests don’t always understand the nature of subcontracted jobs on Walt Disney World property.
Not only do third-party workers oftentimes wear similar costumes, but they are also held to the same standard as Disney Cast Members. A great example of third-party workers seamlessly blending in at Walt Disney World is the employees who sell balloons on Main Street USA. Walt Disney World utilizes a company called Rubio Arts for a number of offerings within its theme parks such as balloons, parasols, caricatures, and portraits.
While the line between Cast Members and third-party employees is a little bit more obvious at some Disney Springs locations, there are a number of third-party locations that are oftentimes confused by guests as being Disney-owned locations.
Back in September, Unite Here Local 737 published a report calling third-party dining locations at Disney Springs “second class” jobs due to a lack of benefits when compared to Disney Cast Members working at the same shopping and dining complex.
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.
“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.
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”.
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!
