According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel, Walt Disney World has released their contract proposal to the largest unions. The starting pay would rise from $8.03 to $10.00 an hour by July 2016. The starting pay would jump to $9.00 this year. Current full time workers would haves raises of at least 50 cents an hour for those not at the top of the pay scale and 30 to topped out cast members.
In order to get these above market raises, the unions will have to agree to give-up pension plans for employees hired after January 1, 2016. New employees would be eligible for a 401k plan. Current cast members would get to keep their current pensions while also having access to the 401k plan.
Previously Disney negotiated a similar deal that gave post-retirement medical benefits to cast members hired before a certain date while excluding newer employees. Disney has been trying to reduce post-retirement benefits as those costs continue to rise. Disney dropped pensions for new hired salaried employees in 2012.