Julia Cendejas interns at Disneyland

I had the opportunity to work as a Labor Relations Professional Intern at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. I worked in the Labor Relations Department at Disney which manages the union contracts pertaining to workers at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and the Disneyland hotels. The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, reflecting the iconic brands, creative minds and innovative technologies that make ours the world’s premier entertainment company (thewaltdisneycompany.com).

As an intern, I had the opportunity to work alongside all the Labor Relations managers and senior managers. I prepared summaries of past arbitrations, negotiations, and employee case files to provide background for Labor Relations managers and legal counsel. Additionally, I presented weekly updates on current labor news and happenings in the Disneyland Park to the entire Anaheim-based Labor Relations team during staff-meetings. One of my main responsibilities was to take verbatim notes during grievance meetings between employees (or former employees), union representatives, and park managers.

Undoubtedly Labor & Employment Law and Labor Relations were two of the most relevant courses that prepared me for this internship. It was very helpful to have a base understanding of the collective bargaining process, the NLRA, and the NLRB. Both the bargaining simulation and the legal memo assignment from those classes provided me with the skills necessary to succeed in the program.

My biggest piece of advice for students preparing for an internship at Disney is to say yes to any and every opportunity during your time there. Everyone in the Labor Relations Department at Disneyland was so supportive and willing to include me on meetings and projects. If you are interested in something, ask if you can be a part of it! Also, never be afraid to ask questions - the labor relations managers are so knowledgeable and can teach you so much about bargaining, contracts, labor law, and so much more. Disney has a very special work culture, and the people there truly care about the brand.

Overall, the internship was a phenomenal experience because I was able to see the full collective bargaining process, including the proposals drafted prior to negotiations as well as the training and implementation strategies that are conducted after a contract is signed.