Twenty-Three Unions Form Coalition to Organize All Knott's Berry Farm Employees

Twenty-three trade unions, in partnership with the Orange County Labor Federation, have established the UniteKnotts Coalition to organize and represent every employee at Knott's Berry Farm. This initiative emerges as the amusement park, originally a family-operated attraction, now functions under an $8 billion corporate entity following the Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger. Frontline workers, including ride operators, food service staff, and cashiers, typically earn between $15 and $18 per hour, wages that coalition leaders argue are insufficient for meeting basic living expenses in Southern California.

Chris Griswold, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42, emphasized the disparity, stating that Knott's Berry Farm was built on community and hard work but today is run by a corporate giant that puts profits before people. The coalition aims to secure fair compensation, safe working environments, and adequate staffing levels for all employees. By uniting unions that represent tens of thousands of workers across various sectors, UniteKnotts seeks to ensure comprehensive representation and advocacy. Additional details about the coalition's objectives and efforts are available at https://UniteKnotts.com.

This organizing drive highlights broader labor movement trends in the amusement and hospitality industries, where low wages and corporate consolidation have sparked increased unionization efforts. The outcome could influence labor practices at other theme parks and large entertainment venues nationwide. The coalition's formation represents a significant escalation in labor organizing within the theme park industry, which has historically seen mixed union representation. The effort to organize every employee at a single major park is particularly notable and could serve as a model for similar campaigns elsewhere.

The push comes amid growing scrutiny of wage disparities in high-cost regions like Southern California, where service industry workers often struggle to afford housing and other essentials. The coalition's focus on fair compensation reflects these broader economic pressures facing workers in the region. The involvement of multiple unions through the UniteKnotts Coalition creates a unified front that could strengthen bargaining power and increase pressure on park management to address worker concerns. This coordinated approach represents a strategic evolution in labor organizing tactics within the entertainment and hospitality sectors.

The campaign's success or failure will likely have implications beyond Knott's Berry Farm, potentially affecting labor relations at other Cedar Fair properties and throughout the theme park industry. As corporate consolidation continues in the amusement park sector, workers are increasingly seeking collective bargaining power to counterbalance the influence of large corporate entities. The UniteKnotts Coalition represents a direct response to this trend of consolidation and its impact on frontline workers. The organizing effort underscores the ongoing tension between corporate profitability and worker welfare in industries dependent on low-wage labor.