Disney World trade unions vote Nov. 19 on authorizing a strike

The Craft Maintenance Council, eight unions behind Disney World’s ride mechanics and trades, will vote Nov. 19 on authorizing a strike after members rejected Disney’s first offer.

The people who keep Walt Disney World’s rides running are getting ready to vote on a strike.

Members of the Craft Maintenance Council, a group of eight trade unions at Disney World, will vote on Thursday, Nov. 19, on whether to authorize a strike against Disney, according to WDW News Today. The site reported the plan from a union letter to members, and Chip and Company reported the vote the same day.

A yes vote would not mean anybody walks off the job that week. It gives the unions the option to strike later if contract talks go badly.

Who is in Disney World’s Craft Maintenance Council?

The council, called the CMC, is a coalition of eight local trade unions, WDWNT reports:

• Bricklayers

• Carpenters

• Electricians

• Laborers

• Operating Engineers

• Painters

• Plumbers and pipefitters

• Teamsters

These are the backstage jobs most guests never think about. The council’s 2022 contract with Disney lists job titles such as attractions mechanic and ride and show technician. So yes, these are the folks who fix the ride when it goes 101.

Neither Disney nor the unions have said publicly how many workers the council covers.

Why are Disney World maintenance workers talking about a strike?

Money, mostly. WDWNT says members unanimously rejected Disney’s first contract offer on Oct. 13, and that higher wages are their top priority.

Their old deal has run out. The signed 2022 agreement ran from April 3, 2022, through Oct. 3, 2026. WDWNT reports the contract is being extended month to month while the two sides keep talking.

No wage numbers from either side have been made public. We haven’t seen what Disney offered or what the unions are asking for.

What happens if the strike vote passes?

Think of it as a bargaining chip. The union letter, as quoted by WDWNT, says “a strike remains a last resort.”

If talks don’t bring real progress on pay, WDWNT reports, the unions could give Disney 14 days’ notice to end the agreement. The letter explains it this way: “Terminating the agreement allows the Unions to strike, but it does not mean that a strike would have to be called.”

The unions “expect to resume negotiations with the company in December,” the letter says. Disney’s next offer is expected then.

When is the Disney World strike vote?

The vote is set for Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, in Orlando, per WDWNT. No time or location has been made public.

That’s the week before Thanksgiving, which is one of the busiest stretches of the year at the parks. Disney World runs longer park hours that week, and the Christmas parties are in full swing.

Has Disney responded to the strike vote?

We haven’t seen a statement from Disney, and none of the reports we read included one. We’ll add it if the company comments.

We also couldn’t find coverage yet from Orlando TV stations or the Orlando Sentinel, so the details here come from the union letter as reported by WDWNT. Treat the specifics as the unions’ side of things for now.

Is this the same union deal from 2023?

Nope, that was a different group. Disney World’s biggest union coalition is the Service Trades Council, which covers jobs like attractions hosts, custodial and food service.

That coalition ratified a five-year contract in March 2023, with about 97% of voting members in favor, News 6 reported at the time. It set an $18 an hour minimum that rises over the life of the deal.

The CMC bargains on its own, for the skilled trades. So whatever happens on Nov. 19 won’t touch the Service Trades Council contract.

Will a strike affect Disney World vacations?

It won’t, at least not yet. Nothing changes for guests on Nov. 19, even if the vote passes, since it only authorizes a strike and talks pick back up in December.

If it ever came to a walkout, ride maintenance would be the worry. That’s a big if, though. Both sides are still talking, and the union letter calls a strike a last resort.

So for now, it’s a vote to watch, y’know, more than a reason to change your plans.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• WDW News Today (Nov. 8, 2026), the strike vote, the union letter quotes, the rejected offer and the contract extension

• Chip and Company (Nov. 8, 2026), the Nov. 19 vote

• North America’s Building Trades Unions, the 2022 CMC contract dates and job titles

• News 6 WKMG (March 30, 2023), the Service Trades Council contract

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