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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Michael Sainato

‘Grossly underpaid’: Disney workers demand higher wages as living costs soar

Crowds watch characters parade at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Crowds watch characters parade at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Photograph: Joe Burbank/AP

Earl Penson has worked for 11 years as a food handler, managing and distributing deliveries for the Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida, but makes just 50 cents more an hour than a new employee starting at Disney’s current minimum wage set at $15 an hour.

He works over 40 hours a week at the so-called “Magic Kingdom”, starting work around 2am, working anywhere from eight to 10 hours or more, and takes side gigs as an electrician to make extra money.

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