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Disneyland workers say they live in cars and motels due to low pay

Cynthia “Cyn” Carranza meticulously scavenged for a shady parking spot in the car she called home.

The overnight custodian at Disneyland has to sleep during the day - a difficulty for anyone, let alone when you're living in your car with two dogs. Ms Carranza says she makes $20.65 an hour (about £15.99) at the park but last summer, she couldn't afford rent in this Southern California city where the average apartment can run more than $2,000 (about £1,550) a month.

…

Ms Carranza, like others who work at the park, detailed to the BBC the financial hardships that come with working at what’s supposed to be the “Happiest Place on Earth”. About 10,000 union workers at Disneyland - the first of 12 parks created around the globe - are threatening to strike over the wages and what they say are retaliatory anti-union practices.

Hundreds of workers protested outside the park this week, with an array of signs and pins showing Mickey Mouse's gloved fist in defiance. 

“Mickey would want fair pay,” workers chanted outside Disneyland near the park's gates. 

They voted almost unanimously to authorise strike action on Friday, just days before union contract negotiations for workers are set to resume.

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  • No, but I can read.

    We absolutely should be talking about this story in the broader context of our society, including, yes, the election. I don't know what conversations you've had with that user in the past, but the election and our leaders should absolutely be brought up here. They are the people with the power to fix things, after all.

    • What, specifically, could a president do to fix this? They aren't a dictator (unless Trump gets in). The president can't raise minimum wage. He can't force a corporation to pay people more. It has nothing to do with Trump and Biden.

      Now if you want to talk about congress, fine. They're the ones who have to fix this.

      • I think you're understating the power of the Presidency here. For one thing, they have veto power over Congress.

        For another, many laws are broad and give a lot of leeway for interpretation, which is why presidents can accomplish a lot by executive order. As long as the Supreme Court doesn't step in anyway.

        And third, don't underestimate the power of the bully pulpit. Presidents are looked at as the leaders of their party, and often set the legislative agenda. If a president says they want something done, their party members in Congress will find a way to get it done.

        • Okay:

          What would Biden veto? Is there a "give people less money" bill?

          What executive order could he make beyond what he has already made? He raised federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

          And he did use the bully pulpit. He did it when he raised the federal minimum wage.

          But, of course, that doesn't pass the purity test.

      • has Biden at least visited Disneyland and talked to the workers to let them know he stands with them even though his power to fix anything is limited

        he could at the very least show some solidarity to the working class that actually make the US great

        • Oh, and in case you decide to pretend otherwise, I've brought a receipt:

          https://p.lemmy.world/post/lemmy.world/5542878

        • I know for a fact that if he did, you would complain that he hasn't done enough because I remember what you were saying when he spoke to the UAW while they were on strike.

          No one in the presidency will ever pass your purity test.

          • all ask out of a president is to try to stand behind the people and make speeches in times such as this like he cares maybe even go to where the issue is and talk to people

            that would be an awesome leader

110 comments