Tipped Cast Rebuttal to Unite Here 737:

On June 12, 2024 Unite Here 737 released a document; they claim to have presented to the Walt Disney Company on behalf of the tipped cast. This document was a list of demands that a select few put together to represent the over 4,000 tipped cast of the Walt Disney company. Many of these demands were met with reasoning of “we deserve it”. One may wonder why and how we got here. In 2023 there was a contract negotiation that was done amongst the 6 unions of the Walt Disney company. The major points that were won in the contract was to benefit those who worked in a hourly role and not a tipped role. The demands of hourly are much different than those in tipped position. Unite Here 737 made claims that they were gonna fight for guaranteed shifts for part timers (which would help with the over hiring of part time tipped staff), increase auto gratuity from 18% to 20%; more full time opportunities, amongst many other issues that those in the those roles had. Unite Here 737 also made claims there would be a part time negotiation after the full time contract was finished. The reality of these things was that they were not done and they rushed a vote to take the win of the hourly getting a large pay increase. The union president admitted in a February 29th meeting that the part time contract was rushed due to pressure for the raise to go in effect and 2 days they put together the part time contract. 

Fast forward to early this year there was a vote called to increase dues for 737. There was a lot of misinformation that was given and a lot of small print that was left out of the original notice of the increase. There was not clear information given to any shop steward about the purpose or the plan going forward. The vote was to increase the current dues from $10 a week (full time and part timers who worked 3 shifts or more) to $15 a week starting June 1 of this year. The fine print ( which many were unaware of until they received a post card) was that the increase would continue for the next 5 years at a additional $1 a year per totaling to $20 a week. When members (particularly tipped cast) asked what the purpose of increase was they were met with an array of reasons, from to fight harder next contract, to giving business agents raises. It was not until the member meeting; on the day of vote ; was there any real clarification and even then it was not wellplanned out on how they were going to allocate the additional funds. 

The vote to raise these dues was even more concerning; as in the bi-laws of the union it states that votes are to be cast on secret ballot. Reality was that those who came to vote were corralled into separate rooms; sat in from of a union rep and were questioned and pressure to vote yes. Many were told what to vote and made to check their answer in front of the agent before proceeding to the box to place vote.  Many lines of business within the union were not even fully aware there was even a vote until it was all over. Of the 14,000 members that Unite Here 737 claims to have only a little over 869 members were able to cast the votes due to the time and place and manner the vote was conducted. 

This sparked many red flags amongst members; especially in the tipped roles. Letters flooded the union office requesting their anniversary dates and ways to leave the union after feeling unheard and under represented time and time again, and lack of true transparency. Long time shop stewards were met with angry members and no clear answers from the union. When those stewards tried to have conversations with union leadership there were met with defensiveness, rude and unprofessional comments, and a attitude that tipped cast make lots of money and should just be grateful instead of complaining. These behaviors have caused many long term shop steward to resign. 

On May 3, 2024 a few members went to the meeting and spoke with the President and Vice President of local 737. Members request a tipped member meeting and was assured that a simple email to the Food & Beverage leader would get a meeting scheduled. Yet again this was not the case. The leader at first refused to respond to email but with more pressure responded on May 9. The response was that the union was meeting with shop stewards in the coming month and wanted to do that prior to a member meeting. Members want to address concerns on unresolved issues, accountability and transparency of the unions recent actions and in forum to get clarification on many matters specifically related to tipped cast. However; instead a group of select “committee members” (who are not voted or picked to be on committee by the members but by the leadership team of 737) got together to form a list of “demands” they felt the members wanted. This list was present only to shop stewards and told not to tell cast until in was made public. This document was written in a manner in which many members were blindsided with the list of demands. The demands were presented in a way that not only would fall on deaf ears to the Walt Disney company but also made the tipped cast sound like whiny workers. 

So what is the tipped members wanting to be known? 

Tipped jobs at with the Walt Disney company are a special classification; while tipped cast work very hard the compensation that comes from the company is very little compared to other lines of business. Their hourly rate is $8.98 (which is the state of Florida’s minimum tipped wage) The cast rely on the amazing guest to make up a majority of their income. Each tipped cast has their own style of creating an exceptional dining experience for guest and rely on those guest to compensate their service. The cast work in a very physical job, that consist of heavy lifting and many hours of continuous walking/standing and many times with no break. For many of these cast the aspiration to get full time with health insurance is only a dream as the ratio of part time to full time is 3 to 1. Part time cast are required to give 3 full days of availability to Disney and in return are guaranteed 0 shifts. Part time cast can work to get insurance but must work full time hours to reach the qualification to get the health insurance and this insurance is not equivalent to full time insurance. 

What does most tipped cast want? They want more availability of full time with the company in their line of work. They want Disney to not over hire and flood areas with too many part time servers so that there is no shifts available. They want the auto gratuity that it added on checks to increase from 18% to 20% as this is more industry standard. This does not mean every check just those that are already meeting the current policy. 

Tipped cast also want an allergy process that leaves less room for error to prevent unnecessary discipline actions and helps keep guest safe. The amount of allergies that cast have to accommodate has tripled in recent years. 

Cast also want a clear transparent system for transfer opportunities within the line of work as a location can make a huge difference to the income of said workers. 

What do they want from their union? A real voice, while only those who work in the line of work truly understand what it takes to make the role efficient being grouped with non tipped workers has created a lack of understanding and involvement in the matters at hand. They want a honest and transparent union who keeps members well informed and less side conversations and secret meetings. 

While the vast majority of tipped cast members are pro union and understand the need for a healthy relationship with union leaders who understand, listen and see us as actually cast members. We feel this is not the union leadership for us. We have been overlooked, not heard and belittled for speaking out. This past release of our "demands" is a prime example. It made us look entitled and ungrateful in our guests eyes. This is not the union we need speaking for us. Creating a large divide between our fellow cast and the guests we take pride in making magic for while claiming they are helping us. This wasn't the union acting in good faith. This was a public sacrifice of the tipped cast who were blindsided by these demands and left speechless when reading the backlash and disgust towards us. We appreciate every single guest who dines with us and helps us make a living.