Received this e-mail today from Democracy for America in support of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I. VT):
Disneyland is supposed to be the "happiest place on earth". Instead, it's a brutal example of the devastating income inequality destroying the futures of working families.
While Walt Disney Co. enjoys massive profits, a new study found that two out of three Disneyland workers can't afford enough food to eat and one in ten Disneyland workers struggle with homelessness. Many of the workers are paid so poorly they live in a tent city near the park.
That's why Bernie Sanders passionately called out Disney CEO Bob Iger at a huge rally for Disneyland workers on Saturday:
"I want to hear the moral defense of a company that makes $9 billion in profits, $400 million for their CEOs and have a 30-year worker going hungry. Tell me how that is right?"
"The struggle that you are waging here in Anaheim is not just for you. It is a struggle for millions of workers all across this country who are sick and tired of working longer hours for lower wages."
A coalition of workers and unions have gathered enough signatures for a ballot measure to raise wages to $18 an hour by 2022, but profit-hungry local entities like the California Restaurant Association and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce don't want this to pass.
Will you stand with the Disneyland workers, Democracy for America, Bernie Sanders, and our progressive allies in calling on Walt Disney Co. to pay their workers a living wage?
Sign the petition and tell Disney CEO Bob Iger: Pay your workers a living wage.
While Disneyland workers go hungry, Walt Disney Co. thrives off corporate welfare.
Thanks to the Trump-GOP tax cuts, Disney is raking in another $1.5 billion in profits this year. The corporation even receives subsidies from the city of Anaheim at Disneyland in California.
Even with these massive advantages, the pay difference between the median Disney worker and CEO is 367 to 1, one of the worst CEO pay gaps in the U.S.
Workers at the "happiest place on earth" deserve to earn livable wages that reflect how hard they work, and Disney's profits are more than sufficient to provide much-needed wage hike to its employees.
Stand with Bernie, DFA, and Disneyland workers: Sign the petition demanding that Disney CEO Bob Iger end the culture of greed and guarantee Disney workers a living wage.
A victory for Disneyland workers would be a massive step toward supporting underpaid workers across the country.
Thank you for your solidarity,
- Jay
Jay Henderson, Senior Digital Strategy Manager
Democracy for America