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News release

Moms to Disney, Florida Lawmakers: Take a Stand Against Child Labor

January 31, 2024
Workplace Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Jacksonville, FL – With the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) lobbying hard for passage of HB 49/SB 1596, which would cause real harm by significantly rolling back critical labor protections for teens in the state, moms are demanding that prominent FRLA member Disney join them in opposing passage of these bills.

MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families nationwide and 60,000 in Florida, has gathered thousands of signatures from moms, parents, and Disney fans urging opposition to this legislation, which would:

  • Allow employers to schedule 16- and 17-year-olds for more than 8 hours of work per day, and 30 hours per week, even when schools are in session;

  • Allow employers to schedule 16- and 17-year-olds to work for more than six days in a row, even when schools are in session;

  • Get rid of mandated breaks for 16- and 17-year olds, which current law requires every four hours of work; and

  • Preempt local governments from passing curfews for teen workers that are stricter than state law.

“Moms and families are Disney’s core customers, and we strongly support the child labor laws that protect children’s health, workplace welfare, and education,” said Nina Perez, MomsRising Florida Director and National Director for Early Learning. “We are sending a message to Disney, all FRLA members, and Florida lawmakers that we oppose child labor and oppose passage of these bills.”

“Disney is a family company, and moms and families across Florida and the country are looking to Disney to stand with our children by urging the FRLA to end its support for HB 49 and SB 1596 and oppose all attempts to roll back child labor protections. The safety, health, well-being, and education of our children must come first. The happiest place on earth must not support laws that put our teens at risk. Mickey Mouse can be the hero of this story if Disney and the FRLA stand up for our kids.”

MomsRising has opposed numerous attacks on Florida children, including book bans, academic censorship, and laws that defund public schools.

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.