Maintenance Workers at Worlds of Fun Tentatively Agree to Strongest Contract in Shop’s History After Months of Negotiations

KANSAS CITY, MO — Today, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 maintenance working people who ensure guest satisfaction and safety at Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, and Worlds of Fun Village tentatively agreed to a strong new contract after months of negotiations and member-led actions. The 3-year contract covering all maintenance workers at the park includes three years of guaranteed raises – including retroactive pay for 2024 to cover the hours worked during the extended bargaining –, increased paid leave and additional protections around use of that paid leave, guaranteed life insurance and company profit-sharing retirement contributions, and a guaranteed minimum 10 hours of rest time between shifts. 

Additionally, Local 1 members successfully defeated company subcontracting proposals that could have undermined job security, won new language around breaks, heat protection and recovery, availability of first aid supplies, and increased safety training and involvement in OSHA inspections. Members also won language around limitations on workplace surveillance, use of social media for disciplinary purposes, and use of personally owned devices for work purposes. 

This historic victory for the working people at Worlds of Fun comes after months of negotiations and actions that included rallies, attending bargaining sessions – the longest being 21 hours –, and continuous efforts by Local 1 members to fight until a fair contract was negotiated. 

The contract still needs to be ratified by the Local 1 members who work at Worlds of Fun, but member leaders are optimistic and proud of this achievement.

“From the moment we were elected, our Union bargaining committee members were all on the same page: we needed a good contract for every Union member – existing and incoming – and we needed to address issues with our working conditions, such as the lack of a minimum rest time between shifts,” said Jason Proudfit, Ride Mechanic at Worlds of Fun and member of the Union bargaining committee. “We worked hard to win language that addressed almost all of those issues, and we are all very proud of this new contract.”

“We are very pleased with the new contract terms,” said David Sandgren, Carpenter at Worlds of Fun and member of the Union bargaining committee. “We understood it wasn’t going to be an easy campaign, but we knew what we were fighting for and we achieved it. Now we’re excited to implement the new terms that we won with our Union power, and we look forward to continuing to provide guests with the safe and fun environment that they deserve!” 

“This agreement was made possible by the determination of these Local 1 members who worked tirelessly to ensure they and their coworkers would all be protected and respected by this new contract,” said Chris Rak, SEIU Local 1 Director of Missouri and Southern Illinois. “This contract values the workers who help ensure Worlds of Fun is the Kansas City staple families love.”