The Walt Disney Co. has agreed to pay $233 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by Disneyland employees who allege that the Mouse Home stiffed them by failing to satisfy native minimal wage necessities.
Disney on Friday authorised the preliminary settlement which accounts for again pay with curiosity that’s owed to greater than 50,000 present and former staff of its Anaheim, Calif. theme parks.
“What we believe is the largest wage and hour class settlement in California history will change lives for Disney families and their communities,” Randy Renick, an legal professional representing the employees within the class-action swimsuit, advised the Los Angeles Instances.
The settlement covers again pay with curiosity from Jan. 1, 2019 — the day Anaheim’s $15-an-hour minimal wage legislation went into impact.
Disney additionally agreed to pay penalties, curiosity and different charges.
In July, Disney agreed to a brand new contract with unionized employees at Disneyland — elevating the minimal wage to $24 an hour.
A California state choose is scheduled to evaluate the settlement on Jan. 17. If authorised, every worker will obtain a discover informing them of how a lot they are going to obtain.
“We are pleased that this matter is nearing resolution,” a Disneyland spokeswoman advised the LA Instances.
“Currently, all cast members make at least the Measure L requirement of $19.90 per hour, and, in fact, 95% of them make more.”
Measure L is the minimal wage legislation authorised by Anaheim voters that went into impact in January 2019.
The dispute between Disney and its staff started in February 2018, when a bunch of labor unions printed a survey which discovered that firm employees struggled to earn sufficient cash to cowl primary bills.
Later that 12 months, Anaheim voters authorised the brand new minimal wage measure.
Disney negotiated pay raises with particular person theme park unions and union councils — although it didn’t regulate wages in accordance with the legislation.
That prompted Disney staff to file a class-action lawsuit in December 2019. The corporate was accused of looking for to illegally circumvent the minimal wage legislation.
The Put up has sought remark from Disney.
