Disneyland cast members who perform in the Characters and Parades departments have filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for union recognition. The workers seek to join the Actors’ Equity Association (Equity), the same association which represents their counterparts in Walt Disney World.
The organizers announce their intentions to unionize in February, and today stated they have collected signed union authorization cards from more than 2/3 of the 1,700 eligible Disneyland cast members. The group, calling themselves Magic United, notified Disney on Tuesday that a supermajority of cast members had signed the petition to file, and asked Disney to voluntarily recognize the union.
“The Cast Members who bring the Characters and Parades to life have been non-union since Disneyland Resort opened in the 1950s and have watched other workers in the park unionize all around them. Just eight weeks after Equity launched a campaign seeking union authorization cards, we have signatures from a supermajority of those eligible,” said Equity President Kate Shindle.
If Disney declines to grant voluntary recognition, Magic United will request a union election with the NLRB to be held in May or June.
In January, the base pay for parade and character performers was raised to $24.15 per hour, with premiums paid for certain roles.
Despite the concerns some workers raised about wages, scheduling and workplace safety, Magic United representatives say they are both pro-Disney and pro-union.
“Our goal is to make ‘the happiest place on Earth’ a little happier,” said Shindle. “Equity has a very good relationship with Disney. We negotiate with them at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and with Disney Theatricals on Broadway and national tours. We look forward to meeting with their representatives across the bargaining table, and together, making the Disneyland Resort a fairer and safer place to work.”
