Arbitrator Rules Against Patina Group at EPCOT’s Italy Pavilion Over Button Dispute

Patina Group Loses Arbitration Over Union Button Dispute at Italy Pavilion

Marking a notable win for labor advocates, Patina Group workers are once again permitted to wear union buttons during their shifts. This decision serves as a key milestone in the ongoing effort to secure stronger protections and rights for third-party restaurant staff across Disney property.

Related – ​Patina Group Employees at Walt Disney World’s Italy Pavilion to Vote on Strike

This ruling is the latest development in a high-stakes campaign led by UNITE HERE Local 737, representing workers across Walt Disney World and the Patina Restaurant Group. Following a massive rally in December, workers at the Italy Pavilion’s unionized locations—Tutto Italia, Tutto Gusto, and Via Napoli—have been pushing for a transformative new contract. Their demands include $8 raises over three years, free family health insurance, and a 20% automatic gratuity.

The specific “button dispute” began in late February when staff began wearing union insignia to show solidarity. Management’s immediate order for staff to remove the buttons or be sent home was challenged and ultimately overturned. A neutral arbitrator found that the ban violated both the existing union contract and the National Labor Relations Act. With their right to display union membership restored, employees now look toward their next round of critical negotiations scheduled for March 25, 2026.

Upon hearing of the arbitrator’s decision, Tutto Italia server and union leader Giandomenico Cardellini said, “Wearing our union button is our fundamental right as workers. Patina Group workers in the Italy Pavilion stick together, so I will proudly put my union button back on!”

Negotiations for a new union contract remain ongoing for Patina Group employees at the Italy Pavilion. Following the recent arbitration win, the bargaining committee is scheduled to return to the table on March 25, 2026, to continue pressing for their key demands.

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