The Fight for $15 Took a Trip to Disneyland. It Won—and Now Wants $18

Disney Bug's Land
Stephanie Ortiz, of Fullerton, pouts as she hugs Flik during the last day of operation for A Bug's Land at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Calif., on September 4, 2018. The land is being replaced with a Marvel-themed area slated to open in 2020. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen—Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Jeff Gritchen—Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Unite Here, the union representing Disneyland hotel workers, won a pay increase that will lift their wages to at least $15 an hour by January.

The deal announced Tuesday is one of several that Walt Disney Co. (DIS) negotiated with theme-park workers on both coasts. The employees have been pressing for higher wages with marches and other forms of protest.

Workers commissioned a study highlighting poverty among park employees and gathered enough signatures for a referendum in Anaheim, Calif., that would push starting pay to $18 an hour by 2022.

Since the measure would only apply to companies that received tax breaks from the city, Disney asked to withdraw from two incentive programs with Anaheim. The union represents 2,700 employees. In July, the company reached agreements to boost wages for 9,700 employees.

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement,” the Burbank, California-based company said in a statement.

Subscribe to CHRO Daily, our newsletter focusing on helping HR executive navigate the changing needs of the workplace. Sign up for free.