SeaWorld Orlando Guards Say They’re Alone With Killer Whales On $16.50 An Hour

Security officers at SeaWorld Orlando say they are overworked, underpaid and left to cover posts so thin that some shifts feel downright dangerous. The officers, who voted to join the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America in March 2025, say SeaWorld has refused to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement and that their union filed an unfair labor practice complaint in August 2025. Guards told reporters they make about $16.50 an hour and that the last raise across the park came roughly six years ago.

Union vote confirmed by federal records

Federal labor records confirm that the security unit at SeaWorld Orlando voted in favor of union representation on March 26, 2025, with 55 ballots cast for the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America and a certification of representative issued the following month, according to the NLRB. The case file lists the certified unit as full time and regular part time armed and unarmed security officers, dispatchers, investigators, locksmiths and trainers at the park.

Guards say low pay and lone shifts create risks

In an interview with Orlando Weekly, officers described overnight shifts where you'd be the one person there with killer whales. No trainer in sight, and said short staffing leaves supervisors strung out and worried a mistake is going to happen. The outlet reported that guards earn about $16.50 an hour, last received a raise six years ago and are often "basically doing the job of two people" while being paid for one. The union told the paper it filed an unfair labor practice complaint in August 2025 alleging the company has refused to bargain in good faith.

Parent company buybacks and the bargaining standoff

Officers point to the parent company’s financial moves as proof the park can afford better pay. United Parks & Resorts, the company behind SeaWorld, announced a $500 million share repurchase authorization in 2025, according to United Parks & Resorts. Earlier in 2025, about 60 officers filed a petition seeking union representation, a step in the organizing drive reported by the Orlando Business Journal. Guards and union organizers say the contrast between stock buybacks and frozen wages has only sharpened tensions around the stalled bargaining.

Legal implications and how long the fight could take

Once a union is certified, an employer is legally required to bargain. When a company refuses, the union can file unfair labor practice complaints that are handled by the NLRB, a process that can drag on well past a few months. Legal proceedings involving complaints, investigations, hearings and appeals often extend many months or longer, sometimes stretching into years. During that time, organizing continues elsewhere in the SeaWorld orbit. NLRB election records show divers at SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove voted 15 to 0 to unionize in May 2025.

What happens next for guards and visitors

Union leaders say they plan to keep pushing for negotiations while officers keep pulling long shifts and filling coverage gaps. Orlando Weekly reported that SeaWorld did not respond to its requests for comment, and the park’s public messaging has largely centered on investors rather than the labor dispute. For now, front line guards say they want safety for guests, animals and staff to be treated as a top priority whenever the company finally comes to the bargaining table.