Central Florida Democrats urge Disney to investigate restaurant owner

Several local and state-level Democratic leaders are pushing Disney to investigate allegations being raised about how workers are being treated at Patina Group’s independently-operated restaurants at Disney Springs and Epcot.

“We are sure you would agree that subcontracting should not be an excuse for lower standards or inadequate treatment of workers,” said a letter signed by Sens. LaVon Bracy Davis and Carlos Guillermo Smith, as well as Reps. Jose Alvarez, Anna Eskamani, Rita Harris and Johanna López.

“We wouldn’t allow a company operating on our property, representing our legacy, to violate our own standards — and we would expect to be held accountable. We call on Disney to investigate these issues that may have occurred on your property operating under your name. We know with your high level of excellence, that sets the standard for Central Florida, we are right to have a high level of expectation for what happens on your property.”

Even though Patina workers are not employed by Disney, the state lawmakers asked The Mouse to investigate whether Patina broke the law by surveilling employees’ union activity and threatening employees if they supported the union. The lawmakers also asked to make sure sexual harassment is not happening in Patina’s restaurants.

Orange County Commissioners Kelly Martinez Semrad and Nicole Wilson held a community forum last week at the Orange County Commission building where advocates publicly released the letters signed by the elected officials in Summer and Fall of 2025.

“We encourage transparency in this process and ask that you publicly share the steps being taken to ensure accountability and compliance,” Semrad wrote in her letter to Disney Government Relations.

Patina leases space at Disney World for its Space 220 restaurant in Epcot, as well as Enzo’s Hideaway, Morimoto Asia, the Edison in Disney Springs and others.

Three of Patina’s restaurants, Tutto Italia, Via Napoli and Tutto Gusto in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion, unionized last year and are now represented by Unite Here 737. United Here, which represents Disney restaurant and beverage employees, is fighting to get them better working conditions.

For years, Patina employees have complained they are paid less than other Disney employees and are stuck in part-time status so they miss out on benefits and paid time off, even as they work up to six days a week.

“I was astounded by what they were encountering in the workplace,” Wilson said in a statement. “In District 1, we are in absolute reliance on the success of our hospitality workers. … They are the smiles that make a family vacation meaningful.”

Unite Here has filed several unfair labor practices complaints against Patina which are still pending at the National Labor Relations Board.

During labor talks, Patina union employees were considering going on strike last year until Disney intervened. An independent arbitrator then shut down what would’ve been a historic strike on Disney property, the Orlando Weekly reported.

Disney and Patina did not respond to a request for comment for this story.