ANAHEIM, California, July 24 (Reuters) - Unions

representing 14,000 Disneyland employees said on Wednesday they

had reached a tentative labor agreement with Walt Disney ( DIS )

, averting a work stoppage at the theme park.

The new, three-year agreement, which includes wage

increases and other benefits for park employees who are referred

to as "cast members," was signed by an alliance of unions

representing custodians, ride operators, merchandise clerks and

other workers at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

"Cast members have fought hard for the past four months and

this tentative agreement would not have been possible without

the strength we all showed throughout this process and the

unwavering support from guests and community members," the

unions said in a statement.

Disney ( DIS ) confirmed the tentative deal in a statement to

Reuters: "We care deeply about the wellbeing of our cast members

.. and are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with

the Master Services council that addresses what matters most to

our cast."

Union members working at the Disneyland and Disney

California Adventure theme parks, the Downtown Disney retail

district and the Disney ( DIS ) hotels voted overwhelmingly on Friday to

authorize the union to call a strike, if agreement could not be

reached.

The contract for unionized Disneyland employees expired on

June 16, while the pact covering Disney California Adventure and

Downtown Disney workers expires Sept. 30.

A vote on the tentative agreement is scheduled for Monday.

"We have shown Disney ( DIS ) that we are the true magic makers of

the park and today proves that when workers stand together for

what they deserve, we win," the unions said in a joint

statement. "We look forward to making our voices heard during

the voting process to ratify this contract."