Disney Studios seeks to fire union lot nurses in favor of subcontractors, shredding an 85-year tradition

Earlier this summer, Disney Studios notified IATSE Local 80, which represents motion picture grips, crafts service, marine, first aid employees and warehouse workers based in and around Hollywood, that they would be terminating their staff of union nurses at the Burbank studio lot and subcontracting those duties out to an outside (non-union) company. The news has sent shockwaves through the department of studio lot nurses--leaving many fearing for their future.

In a release late last month, Local 80 called attention to the long history of union nurses on Disney Studios lots. "After 85 years of having Union nurses on their Studio Lot, Disney wants to end a longstanding tradition by firing these dedicated professionals and replacing them with a non-union company. This move is not just a shift in employment strategy; it’s a disservice to the legacy and values that Walt Disney himself embraced."

"In a time when living wages and job security are more important than ever, retaining these well-paid union jobs is crucial. Union membership ensures fair treatment, better wages, and excellent working conditions, which align with Disney’s ethos of nurturing talent and respecting all who contribute to its magic," the release continued.

According to reporting in Deadline in late September, "IATSE’s Basic Agreement with the Hollywood studios only prohibits subcontracting work “which has not heretofore been subcontracted in the multi-employer bargaining unit,” which opens the door for Disney to make a move like this. Studio nurses were previously subcontracted at Universal Studios in 1989." The Basic Agreement was signed last year, and is supposed to last for 3 years.

"This was actually very shocking and came out of nowhere," said Sepideh Reyhanyfar, RN at the Burbank lot. "Because when they signed the contract, we thought that they're gonna honor that contract at least for the three-year period that they signed the contract."

DeJon Ellis, Jr., Business Manager for IATSE Local 80, spoke with Words About Work late last month about the decision and what it could mean for his members. He noted that Disney's verbal reasoning for removing union nurses from the Burbank lot was around issues of liability, but he remains skeptical. "When they say that, I take it almost as a principled approach to union busting. You're telling me, "Oh, to avoid liability," but honestly, I call bullshit on it," he said. "This is just another layer of just, deepening the pockets, and you know, clawing back and taking back power from the union where ever they can."

For union nurses, a shocking announcement

Chris Burkhardt is a Registered Nurse who has worked at the Disney Studio Lot for over 10 years. When asked what her reaction was to the news of the impending firings, she responded, "Shocked. There was never any kind of conversation with management and us at all about that. We heard about it from the union."

Kelly Peterson has worked on the Disney Studio lot since 2015, and been a nurse for 33 years, expressed similar shock at the news. "They're not even communicating [anything] to us. We heard it from the union. This has been going on since July and we just found out at the end of August."

Of the workers I spoke with, nearly all of them were veteran medical professionals with decades of experience at major hospitals in Los Angeles. In previous years, union nurses would be ready and available to respond to emergencies and injuries across the entire Burbank lot, as well as maintain general wellness standards for Disney employees, including giving Flu shots.

In the past year, nurses have been subject to increasing restrictions on who and how they can care for individuals--they reported being restricted from caring for any audience members at live tapings, as well as being subject to restrictions on what types of OTC medications they can distribute for allergic reactions or occupational injuries. Now, Disney wants to subcontract those duties out entirely.

The news has sent ripples through the lot, with some union nurses reporting that other departments have expressed a worry that this is just the first domino to fall in a larger project of busting the rest of the unions at the Burbank lot. "We had discussions with some of the grips, with some of the electrical, you know, crew and everything," Burkhardt said. "All of them are a little nervous about this."

"Every department now is worried about their job. It could trickle down to the landscaping, paint department, or the craft services," Peterson said.

Beyond the concerns of wider union busting at the lot, workers are fearful for the stability of their future when they lose their benefits. "This is my livelihood," Peterson said. "I have kids that are under my insurance."

In response to the news, Local 80 has circulated a petition urging Disney not to firing Union Nurses on the studio lot. The petition so far as over 1500 signatures.

Sign the Petition

Tell Disney not to fire Union Nurses on the Studio Lot

Change.org

"We urge Disney to reconsider this decision and demonstrate once again why they are considered leaders in understanding and valuing their employees. Let's ensure that Disney Studios remains a beacon of respect and opportunity by rehiring the Union Nurses that have served their community so well," the petition said.

Words About Work will stay on this story as it develops--stay tuned.