Some workers in the happiest place on earth sure think so. Despite the fact that the Micky Mouse franchise is making billions of dollars, they want to cut the benefits of workers clocking less than 30 hours a week.

Disney figures the can cut cost by denying health benefits to employees who work fewer than 30 hours or 5 days per week. Disney also proposes to force new hires into the more expensive Disney Signature Plan instead of the more affordable Union Health Plan, which now will force 2,300 hotel employees to pay between $1102 to $2641 per year to keep union health benefits.

So who exactly will be affected, the housekeepers, bellmen, bartenders, dishwashers, and cooks who overwhelming are Latina/o and are employed at the Disneyland, Grand Californian, and Paradise Pier hotels.

Gloria Pena, who has been a housekeeper with Disneyland Hotel for 26 Years:

“Después de trabajar como Recamarera toda mi vida, he sido diagnosticada con artritis y osteoporosis. Si yo continuo trabajando en Disney es por mis beneficios médicos de la unión. Sin embargo, con las propuesta de Disney ya no podre pagar por el seguro de salud ¿Por que nos esta haciendo Disney esto? ¡No podemos permitir que esto nos suceda!

“After working as a Housekeeper all my life, I have been diagnosed with Arthritis and Osteoporosis. I continue to work at Disney because of my Union health insurance benefits. With Disney’s proposal, I won’t be able to afford health insurance. Why is Disney doing this to us? We can’t let this happen!

Or Jean Bustamante who has been a server for Yamabuki Restaurant at Paradise Pier Hotel for 15 years.

“Soy madre soltera de dos niños. Mi hijo de 7 añitos tiene parálisis cerebral así como otros problemas de salud. Con la propuesta de la Compañía de Casual Regular perdería el seguro medico que tanto necesita mi hijo. Después de trabajar aquí por 15 años, aun cuando trabajo 6 días a la semana ni siquiera promedio las 30 horas. “Como puede Disney proponer algo así que lastimaría tanto a mi familia”.

“I am a single mother of two children. My 7 year old son has Cerebral Palsy as well as many other disabilities. With the company’s proposal of Casual Regular he would surely lose his much needed health insurance. As a 15 year employee, even when I work 6 days a week, I still don’t average 30 hours. How can Disney deny how much this proposal will hurt my family?”

If you’re in the Disneyland area you can support the workers in a protest being held today in front of Disneyland, organized by Unite Here! Local 681

Thursday, August 14th 4:30pm
Paradise Pier Hotel
1600 S. Disneyland Drive

4:30pm - Picket Line at the Paradise Pier Hotel
5:00pm - March from Paradise Pier Hotel to the Front Entrance of Disney (intersection of Harbor Blvd. and Disneyland Dr.).
6:00 pm - Action in front of Disneyland Entrance
Parking: Park at Downtown Disney Parking (3 Hours free) and then walk to the Paradise Pier Hotel. If you are arriving later that 5pm, then park at Downtown Disney and walk through the downtown walkway to the front of the Disneyland entrance on Harbor, and meet the marchers there.

For More Information, Call UNITE HERE: 714-750-4373 or 714-906-3942

Via / Para la Justicia y Libertad.

Image Via / Greg Laden’s Blog