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Disney Agrees to Historic $233 Million Settlement Over Anaheim Wage Dispute
A long and winding legal battle between Disney and its workers has come to a close with a record-breaking settlement. A judge in Orange County, California, has approved a $233 million payout to thousands of Disneyland Resort employees after Disney was found to have violated Anaheim’s Measure L by underpaying workers. The agreement marks the largest wage-related class action settlement in California history.
Related: Disney Expected to End Contract with Union Nurses in Favor of Third-Party Staffing
The case centered on Measure L, a law passed in 2018 requiring employers in Anaheim’s Resort District who received city subsidies to pay a minimum of $15 an hour, with annual increases. Disney argued that it was exempt from the measure but ultimately underpaid more than 51,000 cast members.
Now, many longtime Disney workers will see thousands of dollars in back pay, plus interest, finally making its way into their pockets.
“This has been a rollercoaster from the beginning, but it’s been incredible winning this settlement,” said Michael Levia, a 16-year cast member and UFCW Local 324 union member. “The people of Anaheim voted for this, and their voices helped Disney hear our voices and got us the money that we deserve.”
For cast members like Michi Cordell, a 17-year Disney veteran who helps transform kids into princesses and knights, the payout will be life-changing. “I love what I do, but I have to be able to afford to live while doing it. This settlement will be a major help to my family thanks to the union and the Anaheim voters who supported Measure L.”
Related: How to Do Disneyland with Young Kids
Unions including UFCW Local 324, SEIU-United Service Workers West, Teamsters Local 495, and BCTGM Local 83 all rallied behind Measure L. Their organizing efforts — from gathering ballot signatures to knocking on doors — laid the groundwork for this moment.
“Every day, cast members make someone’s visit to the Disney Resort special, and now they’re finally receiving the money that they’ve long deserved,” said Andrea Zinder, President of UFCW Local 324. “This historic settlement is the result of solidarity and perseverance.”
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