{"id":356530,"date":"2026-07-29T18:27:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T18:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356530\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T18:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T18:27:18","slug":"seaworld-orlando-ordered-to-post-we-violated-federal-labor-law-notice-at-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/356530\/","title":{"rendered":"SeaWorld Orlando ordered to post ‘We violated federal labor law’ notice at park"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Credit: Discovery Cove via Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

In a victory for divers at Orlando\u2019s Discovery Cove who voted to unionize last year, The National Labor Relations Board has ruled<\/a> that SeaWorld has violated federal labor law by failing to recognize the divers\u2019 union.<\/p>\n

The board ruled last week that SeaWorld of Florida \u2014 doing business as Discovery Cove \u2014 unlawfully refused to recognize workers\u2019 vote to unionize and refused to provide workers with information needed to begin bargaining a contract.<\/p>\n

SeaWorld is now being ordered to recognize the union, begin bargaining talks and display a notice in conspicuous employee areas, such as break rooms, that explicitly states the company violated federal labor law.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maintenance divers at Discovery Cove, the Orlando park owned by the same company as SeaWorld, voted unanimously<\/a> to unionize with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30<\/a> last May. Workers aimed to address concerns about low wages and to have a voice on the job.<\/p>\n

Maintenance divers oversee the underwater cleaning and maintenance of Discovery Cove\u2019s animal habitats and exhibits, for the safety of both animals and guests who visit the resort\u2019s pools, rivers, lagoons, and man-made beaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not looking to ask for unrealistic advances in wages,\u201d union representative Mike Smith told Orlando Weekly earlier this year. \u201cYou know, they\u2019re basically just looking to get the proper compensation for the job that they\u2019re doing, day in and day out \u2014 and mostly night in, night out, because they do work the overnight [shift].\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the NLRB, SeaWorld has refused to recognize the fact that the divers unionized or began bargaining a union contract, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.<\/p>\n

Under the act, private employers have a legal duty<\/a> to bargain \u201cin good faith\u201d with a union that has been certified by the federal labor board as the workers\u2019 bargaining representative. Only about 6 percent of Florida\u2019s workforce has union representation.<\/p>\n

Still, even in states with higher union membership rates, it\u2019s not uncommon for employers that oppose their workers\u2019 unionization efforts, like SeaWorld, to play hard-ball in response and dig their heels in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently, it is a common tactic for employers to slow-walk the bargaining process because there are no penalties for doing so, and delay frustrates workers and undermines their union,\u201d the Economic Policy Institute explains<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The labor board, in last week\u2019s ruling, also ordered SeaWorld to distribute and post a notice to employees onsite at Discovery Cove \u2014 a shame-on-me notice, of sorts, shared in full at the bottom of this article \u2014 that explicitly states that SeaWorld violated federal labor law. The notice also clearly spells out the employees\u2019 legal right to join, form, or assist a union under the NLRA. The notices must be posted onsite at \u201cconspicuous places\u201d for at least 60 days.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Labor Relations Board concluded what we have always known to be true,\u201d the union\u2019s business manager and international vice president William Lynn told Orlando Weekly, in response to the ruling. \u201cDiscovery Cove\/SeaWorld has violated these workers\u2019 legal and fundamental democratic rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Divers vote to form the very first union at Orlando\u2019s Discovery Cove theme park. Credit: Courtesy of IUOE Local 30<\/p>\n

The union had filed an unfair labor practice complaint<\/a> with the NLRB last June, alleging that SeaWorld was unlawfully refusing to bargain with them. This latest NLRB ruling comes in response to those allegations as well as evidence collected from SeaWorld \u2013 or, in this case, a lack of\u00a0 \u2014 to explain the theme park operator\u2019s refusal to bargain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese workers deserve to have their voices heard and respected,\u201d Lynn argued. \u201cWe won\u2019t walk away from this fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Discovery Cove is an \u201call-inclusive day resort\u201d owned by United Parks & Resorts, a global theme park and entertainment company<\/a> that also owns and operates Aquatica, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Adventure Island, and Sesame Place.<\/p>\n

SeaWorld has been accused by a separate union representing security guards at SeaWorld Orlando of refusing to recognize their union<\/a> or bargain a union contract with them, too. There are also pending complaints filed by the IUOE against Discovery Cove over allegedly firing or otherwise disciplining several divers at Discovery Cove in retaliation for their organizing activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese workers deserve better,\u201d Smith previously told Orlando Weekly.One of the disciplined divers reached out to us<\/a> to share his concerns about the issue earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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