It’s a simple concept: hard work deserves good pay.

UPDATE: Gov. Jerry Brown Signs $15 Minimum Wage Law!

"Gov. Jerry Brown... signed legislation Monday raising California’s mandatory minimum to $15 an hour by 2022."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article69842317.html#storylink=cpy

When Disneyland was created in 1955, an orientation to the parks was held for all the newly hired “Cast Members.” This orientation became known as “Traditions”. It emphasized the heritage of what was then Walt Disney Productions, and declared the importance of customer service. “We Create Happiness” was a service vision put in place to suggest that no matter what your role was in the park, your job was to make the Guests happy.

About ten years later, a set of standards were created for Cast Members to follow in order to make the best experience for ALL guests: 

• Safety
• Courtesy
• Show
• Efficiency

More than fifty-five years later, these Four Keys serve as the foundation for everything Disney does. Any organization would be envious to have several key standards stand that test of time. It is at the heart of what has made Disney the powerful name it is today. BUT, the big mouse might just be TOO powerful.

Cast Members follow these Four Keys to a tee, but it has become highly recognized during Disneyland's 60th Anniversary that the Happiness of Guests is far more important than the Well-Being of Cast Members. Guests come into the park with a VERY large sense of entitlement and are frequently rude (and sometimes violent) towards Cast Members. Ask any off-the-clock Cast Member if they've ever been physically and intentionally shoved or yelled at by a Guest, and they will almost always say, "Most definitely." Despite incidents such as these occurring on a DAILY basis, Cast Members STILL do their very best to be Courteous, Safe, and Efficient in order to put on a good Show for their company—and how are they repaid?

With Disneyland's stock rising millions of dollars every year, Annual Passes now costing over $1000 each, and a brand new park in Shanghai getting ready to rake in more funds, you'd think the prestigious company would be able to provide each CM with at least $15 an hour. BUT THAT'S NOT SO. Cast Members put themselves in danger everyday, but they still go to work with a smile and only get paid Minimum wage. 

That's right. For just under $10 an hour, these Architects of Joy put themselves in harm's way in order to give hundreds of thousands of Guests from around the world the best possible experience. Sure, each Cast Member has access to the park almost whenever they aren't working, except for special events like Mickey's Halloween Party; however, $10 an hour will not pay for rent, food, auto expenses, insurance, and the like. That's about 300 times LESS than what Bob Iger makes. The CEO of the Walt Disney Company makes about $285 AN HOUR just for being CEO. Not to mention, Bob Iger's package consists of the $2.5 million salary, $8.9 million in stock awards, $8.3 million in option awards, $22.8 million in non equity incentives, $2.8 million change in pension value, and $1.1 million in other compensation: that's roughly $46,500,000 in 2014 alone, according to Forbes, which is over 30% of what he made in 2013. How much of a raise do you think Walt Disney's mice received?

If you don't think this is fair, sign the petition. You'll be benefiting not only young adults working their way through our over-priced college system, you'll be helping working mothers, fathers, military veterans, and disabled workers get a little bit closer to a living wage.

Thank you so much for reading. Please share this with someone who loves Disney for EVERYTHING that it is and should be.