Maintenance workers who keep the roller coasters at Kansas City’s Worlds of Fun amusement park running safely have signed a new contract after months of negotiations.

Members of Service Employees International Union Local 1 voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying the contract on Wednesday. Workers have been seeking a new deal since the previous one expired in February 2024.

Despite authorizing a strike earlier this month, workers never ended up forming a picket line.

The three-year contract guarantees annual raises, increased paid time off, life insurance, retirement profit-sharing options and a minimum of 10 hours off between shifts. Workers will receive retroactive pay for hours worked during the months-long negotiation process.

Worlds of Fun maintenance workers include electricians, painters, mechanics and carpenters. They are responsible for maintaining the facilities – including inspecting and repairing rides – at the theme park and its sister water park Oceans of Fun.

Worlds of Fun is owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which merged with the operator of the Cedar Fair amusement park earlier this year and now oversees 42 parks in North America. Company representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Don Kincaid has worked as a carpenter at Worlds of Fun for 11 years and served on the negotiating committee for the new contract. Although he says the negotiations were “a little rocky at first,” he is excited about what the group agreed on.

“I think it’s quite possibly the best contract we’ve ever had,” Kincaid said. “We worked hard and everyone worked hard. I believe a good contract will benefit guests the most, because having a well-equipped and well-trained crew is how we can maintain the rides and keep them safe.

Savannah Hawley-Bates

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KCUR 89.3

Workers say the contract was held up in part because park management wanted to reduce the scope of maintenance work and hire additional contractors, who are typically paid more than regular employees.

These new subcontracting proposals were excluded from the final contract, although subcontractors for specialized work, such as major rebuilds on roller coasters, are still permitted.

During her three years at Worlds of Fun, lead painter Jenny Espinosa says she was the only woman doing maintenance. At a union-organized rally following the strike vote, Espinosa said she believed increased wages and contract protections would attract more diverse employees.

“It’s hard for women who work in the trades,” Espinosa said. “More diversity would not only help me, but I think it would help the guys. There are a whole bunch of people who don’t work here.

Every morning, Kincaid walks the track of his wooden roller coasters like the Prowler, the Timber Wolf and the Zambezi Zinger. He’s part of a six-person team that makes sure every screw is in place and the attractions are safe to use – a job that takes at least three hours.

“We take safety seriously,” Kincaid said. “We climb a few hundred feet every day.”

Park maintenance workers say they have been understaffed for years. Worlds of Fun has employed approximately 50 maintenance workers over the past several years; The SEIU says a safe staffing level is at least 80 people.

Kincaid said much of his crew left or retired at the start of the pandemic. He hopes the new contract will encourage more people not only to sign up, but also to stay long enough to maintain the institutional knowledge of the park.

Kincaid says the new contract convinced him to stay at Worlds of Fun, instead of leaving to find another job in a skilled trade.

“As good as he is, he can be replaced,” Kincaid said. “Some of the changes we’ve made to the contract will make everyone feel better about their jobs and stay longer. I feel much safer now and I believe everyone we bring in in the future will feel that way too.