Disney wage negotiations continue

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Disney says they have extended a contact with their workers as negotiations over wages continue, but some union leaders say they are no closer to an agreement.

There are 37,000 full and part time workers at Walt Disney World Resort, and  union leaders say more than half earn less than $12 an hour. 

Union leaders say Disney offered workers a 3 percent raise or 50-cents an hour increase, if a worker earns $10 an hour.  They say Disney also offered members an additional $200 bonus, if they vote for the new raise and it passes.  But workers say it's not enough, and they want a 10-to-15-dollar-an-hour raise.

"The leadership of the union is recommending a rejection of that offer and we'll go back to the bargaining table and continue to push for more. People who make $10 an hour are poor and when you give them a 50-cent raise they're still poor,"  said Eric Clinton, President Local 362.

Disney says their employees, which they call cast members, deserve a raise and say the majority of their workers are already earning two-dollars above the Florida minimum wage.  A vote takes place on December 19 and 20.