Years after Disney was first accused of violating minimum wage laws at its California resort, the “happiest place on Earth” has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit for $233 million. A lawyer representing Disneyland workers confirmed the settlement to Straight Arrow News.
Based on the law firm’s research, it’s believed to be the largest wage and hour class-action settlement in California history.
“For this to be the result, and all of the money to go back to the workers, and the interest on top, it doesn’t quite get better than this,” attorney Cornelia Dai told SAN. “Especially when you have a long fight like this, five years.”
Dai said the settlement will cover 100% of back pay, plus interest and penalties, owed to more than 50,000 Disney employees since 2019. If a judge approves the settlement next month, workers will then find out how much they get.
The five-year fight
Back in 2018, Anaheim voters approved Ballot Measure L , which specifically required employers in Disneyland and Anaheim resort zones that had tax rebate agreements with the city to pay a higher minimum wage. Starting in 2019, that was $15 an hour. It increased $1 every year to $18 an hour by 2022. From there, it started rising by the rate of inflation. In 2024, the rate is $19.90 an hour.