Disney security employees getting $8 an hour raise in new agreement

The Happiest Put on Earth just got a little happier for more than 1,300 Disneyland security workers.

The amusement park's "security cast members"-- consisting of security officers, lead officers, sergeants, bag checkers and canine handlers-- have actually secured a wage boost of nearly $8 an hour to be phased in over the next two years.

The workers, represented by the Fire, authorities and security Professionals of America, got a $6 per hour raise effective April 1. It will be followed by a $1-an-hour walking April 1, 2024, and another $1 per hour raise on April 1, 2025. Integrated, the raises will improve their minimum wage to $26 an hour from $18.10 per hour.

" We are more than pleased with the wage increase we had the ability to negotiate," stated David Hickey, SPFPA's global president.

Disneyland officials issued a one-sentence declaration stating they are "thankful to have reached an arrangement with the union."

Businesses across the board are having difficulty filling all of their openings, Hickey stated, so they're prepared to pay more to keep and attract workers.

" The mindset about coming to work has changed, and it has actually required business to pay more," he said. "We have settlements turning up at Disneyworld in Florida. They're seeking to have a major wage increase there, too."

The Disneyland workers were previously represented by the Independent Employees Service Association, but that union just recently merged with SPFPA to end up being SPFPA Local 1955 with a brand-new executive board.

They enacted October 2021 to affiliate with SPFPA but needed to finish the rest of their IESA labor agreement prior to making the transition.

Hickey said the union likewise prepares to smooth out scheduling for the employees, which can be unpredictable at times due to a range of aspects.

" With COVID-19, business have actually had problem setting up enough people when some employees do not or can't pertain to work" he stated. "Our union will deal with Disneyland to have more input in scheduling. Our history with Disney around the country will help us deal with concerns that might arise."

SPFPA Local 1955 is also upgrading the complaint procedure for security employees at the Anaheim amusement park.

" They've already had two training workshops on this," Hickey stated. "We're showing the old IESA members how our complaint procedures work because the old way wasn't always the way we do that at Disney World."

SPFPA represents more than 27,000 security authorities professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its members likewise provide security services for the Department of Defense and NASA, among other agreements.

Unions throughout Southern California have actually been lobbying for higher incomes in a range of markets.

Employees at the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric hotels in Long Beach secured a $4-an-hour raise previously this month, enhancing their minimum wage levels to anywhere from $22 to $25 an hour. Starting pay at the hotels differs depending upon the specific task a staff member performs.

On the delivery front, more than 340,000 UPS delivery motorists and warehouse workers announced recently they are prepared to strike if the shipping huge fails to supply a "equitable and reasonable contract," with their Teamsters union.

They're seeking greater pay, along with completion of a two-tier wage system that sees some full-time workers being paid less than coworkers who do the exact same jobs. Local UPS employees held a rally on Saturday at their Teamsters Local 952 headquarters in Orange.