Emotions are heating up as Disneyland and its labor unions negotiate a new contract for thousands of resort employees. A deal with Disneyland workers already has expired, while ones for Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney workers expire in September. Union leaders have called for a strike authorization vote, and each side is pushing back on claims made by the other.
There’s a wisecrack in my beloved IndyCar that if you’ve never hit the wall, you’re not driving fast enough. The only way you can keep the other side happy in a labor negotiation is to leave money on the table, and no one wants to do that. Nor should they.
That said, a lot of the economic hardship that many Disneyland Resort employees face these days is not Disney’s fault. But it is easier for workers and their unions to negotiate a deal with Disney for better pay than it is to organize the political movement necessary to change tax laws and development rules to solve the nation’s housing crisis. As negotiations continue, one of the hot-button issues separating Disney and the unions has been, well, buttons.
The unions have charged Disney with unfair labor practices for admonishing employees for wearing pro-union buttons on the job. Wearing a button might not seem like much, but I can’t think of an issue that better illustrates the unique relationship between Disneyland and its employees. Disneyland drives Anaheim’s economy because it is not just a collection of stores, restaurants and rid.