McKenna Schueler at Tampa Creative Loafing reports the Walt Disney Company has blocked what could have been a historic Labor Strike by Food Service Workers at Disney World’s Epcot in Orlando, thereby forcing Workers to take a different approach to leverage their demands for a new Union contract. Restaurant workers at Epcot’s Italy Pavilion - represented by Unite Here Local 737, are employed by the Patina Group, a Disney contractor. The Union - which represents 70 Workers at Tutto Italia, Via Napoli and Tutto Gusto, has been in talks with Patina for a new contract since earlier this year. Their last contract expired on September 30th. But after talks remained unsuccessful, Union Leaders announced in August that Workers would vote on whether to authorize the Union to call for a Strike - the first-ever by Food Service Workers on Disney World property, if the company failed to meet their demands for higher pay and stronger benefits. According to Local 737 President Jeremy Haicken, Disney didn’t like this threat. The multi-national Entertainment Giant, which has its own multi-year contracts with Labor Unions, brought in an arbitrator to argue that a Strike by any Workers on Disney World property - even if not directly employed by Disney itself, would constitute a violation of their current contract with Local 737 and five other Unions that make up the Services Trade Council Union. For the duration of that five-year contract, last negotiated in 2023, the Union is not permitted to aid or abet a Strike by Disney World Employees - or, as Disney and the arbitrators argue, Employees of contractors on Disney World property. “The arbitrator ruled Patina Group Employees cannot Strike,” Haicken said - meaning a Strike will not be happening at Disney Epcot’s Italy Pavilion.

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