A California appellate court ruled that Disneyland has illegally evaded a living-wage law passed by Anaheim voters in 2018 that could boost pay for Disneyland Resort workers to nearly $20 an hour.
The ordinance, known as Measure L, applies a minimum wage to Anaheim resort companies that have tax rebate agreements with the city.
In response to a class-action lawsuit representing 25,000 workers, attorneys for Walt Disney Co. argued that it received no such city subsidies in Anaheim and that the law therefore didn’t apply.
But a three-judge panel from California's 4th District Court of Appeal disagreed, citing a provision in a 1996 Disney expansion deal passed by Anaheim in which the city agreed to repay the company if it had to cover bond payments.
"We are pleased the court focused on the economic reality of Disney's agreements with Anaheim and concluded that Disney is obligated to comply with the living wage law," said Sarah Grossman-Swenson, an attorney representing the workers. "The court's decision will have a real impact on thousands of Disney employees who work so hard but struggle to provide for their families."
Under the minimum-wage law, Disney theme park employees could be paid nearly $20 an hour.
"It's a huge legal victory for not just workers at the resort and at the park but the voters of the city as well because they're the ones who passed this measure," Workers' United Local 50 Vice President Chris Duarte said. Local 50 represents about 8,500 Disneyland food...
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