Essential California
Disney Settles State’s Largest Wage Theft Case
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Here’s what you need to know to start your weekend:
The Week’s Biggest Stories
- Crime, Courts, and Policing
- Fires
- Holiday-themed stories
- Election 2024 and the road to the inauguration
- More big stories
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Column One
Column One is The Times’ home for narrative and long-form journalism. Here’s a great piece from this week:
When Luigi Mangione was arrested in the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, he was hailed in some corners of the internet as an anti-capitalist folk hero. In a document said to be a "manifesto" found with Mangione, published online by journalist Ken Klippenstein, the 26-year-old former data engineer condemned UnitedHealthcare for abusing "our country for immense profit."
For Your Weekend
- Going out
- Staying in
L.A. Affairs
Get wrapped up in tantalizing stories about dating, relationships, and marriage. *L.A. Affairs is off this week. Here is one of our favorites from earlier this year.
At 77, she had given up. She had two failed marriages and accepted that she would be single for the rest of her life. Then she fell in love with the estranged widower of her best friend, who was kind and caring. They spend an afternoon at a nursery of laughing and picking out plants. Would those seeds help germinate a relationship or will budding optimism wilt?
Conclusion
The Disney case is a significant victory for workers and a testament to their perseverance in the face of injustice. The settlement is a reminder that even the largest corporations can be held accountable for their actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Disney wage theft case about?
A: The case involves a class-action lawsuit filed by Disneyland workers who alleged that the company ignored Anaheim’s minimum wage law and failed to pay them the minimum wage.
Q: How much is the settlement worth?
A: The settlement is worth $233 million, making it the largest wage theft case in California history.
Q: Who is affected by the settlement?
A: The settlement covers more than 50,000 current and former Disney employees, including those who worked at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Disney’s other theme parks and resorts.
Q: What happens next?
A: The settlement is pending approval by the Orange County Superior Court, and once approved, a notice will be sent to each worker regarding how much they will receive.
