Universal Orlando Resort will raise its minimum wage to $17 per hour this June.
Karen Irwin, Universal Resort Orlando President and COO, made the announcement about the wage change and other benefits coming to employees in a statement posted through the company’s employee website on Tuesday, February 14.
“Effective June 4, 2023, we are not only increasing our starting base rate to $17 per hour, but we are increasing many of our starting rates across the business,” said Irwin. Additionally, Irwin says that some staff will receive an “increase based on the new rates and their time with the company.”
In her statement, Irwin indicated that the company has also “elevated” its 401K match and “tuition reimbursement programs,” as well as added “compassion leave,” doubled parental leave, enhanced family planning benefits, and changed staff comp ticket availability from block-out calendar to capacity managed based on park attendance.
“We deeply believe in our mission to provide an inclusive environment where our team members are proud to work and we remain committed to that focus. Therefore, we continually evaluate our compensation, perks, and benefits programs and why we are committed to engaging with and listening to you,” said Irwin.
The move comes just one week after over 13,000 workers voted against a new Disney contract proposal that called for a $1 increase to the minimum wage.
It also comes a few weeks after employees of Sodexo, which staffs the Orange County Convention Center, successfully negotiated a new minimum wage of $18 per hour. That raise was announced on January 25 by members of the Unite Here Local 737 workers union.
Those raises and benefits only covered those who are employed by Sodexo and did not account for thousands of other workers who were looking to negotiate a similar contract from Disney, Universal, and hotels and restaurants in south Orlando.