Actors at Disneyland who carry out as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, in addition to different costumed characters on the California theme park, stated Tuesday they’re shifting to type a union.
Calling themselves “Magic United,” the solid members in search of to prepare introduced they’re working with Actors’ Fairness Affiliation, a union representing 51,000 theater actors and stage managers throughout the U.S. Though many of the roughly 35,000 staff at Disneyland have already got labor unions, about 1,700 performers and character actors don’t, the labor group stated.
The hassle is in its early phases, with organizers having solely simply begun circulating union playing cards to the solid members this week, in line with Actors’ Fairness. If a majority of staff signal the playing cards, the group plans to hunt voluntary recognition for the union from Disney Resort Leisure, which oversees Disneyland.
“Disneyland is a really particular place, the place solid members create magic that pulls tens of millions of visitors yearly,” Actors’ Fairness Affiliation President Kate Shindle stated in a press release, noting that the union already represents performers at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. “Disney staff are brazenly and powerfully invested in and constant to the Walt Disney Firm and its values, so it is cheap for them to count on ‘the happiest place on earth’ to pay them pretty and prioritize their well being and security.”
Magic United’s most important calls for embody increased pay, a secure and sanitary office, and transparency in scheduling and rehiring, in line with the group.
Disney operates two theme parks — Disneyland and Disney California Journey — and a buying and leisure space referred to as Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Disneyland, the corporate’s oldest park, was the second-most visited theme park worldwide in 2022 with 16.8 million folks coming by way of the gates, in line with a report by the Themed Leisure Affiliation and AECOM.
Disneyland officers stated in a press release that they imagine solid members deserve the precise to a confidential vote.
—The Related Press contributed to this report.
