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Disneyland workers say they live in cars and motels due to low pay (www.bbc.com)

submitted 4 months ago by along_the_road to c/usnews

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[–] along_the_road 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Union officials say about one in 10 Disneyland cast members have experienced homelessness while working at the park. A survey of employees showed 73% say they don't make enough to cover basic expenses each month and about a third said they experienced housing insecurity within the last year.

“We’re the ones who make the magic,” says L Slaughter, a host at the Toontown-themed part of the park. “We need Disney to pay us a liveable wage.”

Ms Slaughter makes $19.90 an hour - thanks to a minimum wage mandate passed by city voters in 2018. Disney unsuccessfully fought the wage hike, but workers say it’s still not enough to survive in Southern California.

[–] cerement@slrpnk.net 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

MIT says living wage should be $30/hr
actual is $20/hr
median rent in Anaheim is $2500
Disney pretty much refuses to schedule full-time

[–] Didros 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

"No one wants to work anymore!"
people litterally sleeping in their car for work

[–] Megaman_EXE 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

This is so disappointing to hear. I wish disney would pay their workers properly. I remember really enjoying a trip to Disney when I was a kid and the park staff played a huge role in that.

Have you seen the prices lately? Not just for parks, but their hotels, cruises other revenue sources etc. Hollllly man. It's insane. They are making absolute bank.

I would love to see an actual transparent breakdown of how they allocate their money. Their workers should be getting a lot more. If I ever get the chance to go back one day, I don't know if I would be able to enjoy it nearly as much knowing that these staff members are literally giving their lives to the company just to make park guests days special.(actually idk if I would go back period. Even if I could afford to go, it just puts a shadow over the whole experience)

Idk the whole thing is just gross. Just pay them properly dammit.

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 1 points 4 months ago

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They voted almost unanimously to authorise strike action on Friday, just days before union contract negotiations for workers are set to resume.

The contract for cast members at Disneyland expired 16 June, and the current negotiations involves a coalition of unions that represent nearly 10,000 employees at the park, which includes everyone from those who work as characters and operate rides to sales, restaurant, and janitorial workers.

A survey of employees showed 73% say they don't make enough to cover basic expenses each month and about a third said they experienced housing insecurity within the last year.

Disney unsuccessfully fought the wage hike, but workers say it’s still not enough to survive in Southern California.A living wage calculator built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, says a single person with no children would need to be paid $30.48 an hour to afford to live near Disneyland in Orange County, which is about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.Workers who talked to the BBC said they have kept their jobs at the park because they love the Disney brand, and they rely on the generous healthcare benefits and union-operated food bank, which some workers described as a saving-grace.

Disney says it is committed to negotiations with its “cast members” - the company's term for employees who play princesses and pirates as well as the chefs or janitors who maintain the park.

Ms Carranza described the back-breaking work she does nightly at the park - cleaning, polishing, repairing floors and sometimes installing carpets.She said last summer living in her car was the lowest point in her life, and she credits her dogs with keeping her alive.“I know that they’re the reason why I’m still here, why I didn’t let go," she said.

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