The Service Trades Council Union has announced a ‘Rally for a Raise’ demonstration next week in response to Walt Disney World’s refusal to budge on their slow and incremental wage increases. The rally is set to take place next Thursday, March 16, near the parking lot for Magic Kingdom Cast Members.

The SCTU represents more than 45,000 cast members working across Walt Disney World. The STCU is seeking an immediate raise to $18 per hour for its Cast Members, but Walt Disney World has refused to budge on negotiations. The most recent contract between represented Cast Members and the company expired in October.

The Rally for a Raise is set to take place next Thursday, March 16, at 5 p.m. Demonstrators will meet along Reams Road near Magic Kingdom Cast Member parking. The STCU is seeking an immediate raise to $18/hr and full retroactive pay back to October 2022 which is when the most recent contract expired. Currently, the minimum wage for Walt Disney World is set at $15/hr.

Last month, 96% of Cast Members voted to reject Disney’s “best and final offer” of $16 per hour now with a contractual agreement for $1 per hour increases over the next five years leading to $20 per hour. Cast Members represented by local unions say they need an increase from $15 to $18 per hour immediately, with further plans to raise wages to $20 per hour minimum guaranteed. The unions and Disney made it back to the negotiating table briefly, but Disney has refused to add “even one cent” to their previous proposal, and in fact reduced retroactive pay in their new offer, leading to the unions walking away from the table.

Just last week, the labor unions have begun to poll Cast Members to gauge the impact that low wages have had on their survival. The results of the survey will be used to quantify the difficulties they face to Walt Disney World and the public. Now, union leaders are inviting Cast Members to take a public stand in their fight for higher wages and retroactive pay.

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