Disneyland Cast Votes Overwhelmingly for Actors' Equity Association, Fulfilling Dreams of Union Representation

By Moon Harper

May 20, 2024 12:48 AM EDT

Disneyland performers who bring characters like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella to life at the Southern California resort voted to unionize after a three-day vote ending on Saturday.

Making Disney Cast Members' Dream Come True

The Actors' Equity Association labor union announced Saturday that cast members from the parades and characters departments at Disney's theme parks near Los Angeles voted overwhelmingly to have the union represent a group of roughly 1,700 workers, with 78.7% (953 votes) in favor and 21.3% (258 votes) opposed, based on the association's website tracking.

Actors' Equity Association President Kate Shindle stated that Disneyland is known as "the place where dreams come true," and that Disney Cast Members, labeled as the "front lines" of the guest experience, who worked to organize a union, made that dream came true that Saturday night.

The Actors' Equity Association Initiatives

The association, which already represents theatrical performers and cast members at Disney's parks in Florida, will discuss improvements to health and safety, wages, benefits, working conditions, and job security before negotiating these priorities into a contract with Walt Disney Company representatives.

While the National Labor Relations Board did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking confirmation or additional information about the vote, the regional director will certify the results within a week, according to the association.

Magic Untied: Unionization Advocacy of Cast Members

The election occurred on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday in Anaheim, California, following workers' submission of cards earlier this year to establish the Magic United unit, where parade and character workers advocated for unionization to express their love for creating magic at Disneyland. However, when asked to resume hugging visitors during the pandemic, they grew concerned and cited injuries from complex costumes and erratic schedules.

The majority of the over 35,000 unionized employees at the Disneyland Resort, such as cleaning crews, pyrotechnic specialists, and security staff, work at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district in Anaheim.

In recent years, Disney has also been accused of not providing livable wages to its Southern California workers, who struggle with high housing costs and lengthy commutes. Parade performers and character actors now earn a base pay of $24.15 per hour, increased from $20 earlier in the year, with additional premiums for various roles.

Union membership has been declining in the United States for decades, but there has been increasing public support recently, particularly during prominent contract negotiations involving Hollywood studios and Las Vegas hotels. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), tasked with safeguarding workers' right to organize, recorded over 2,500 filings for union representation during the 2023 fiscal year, marking the highest number in eight years.

The initiative to organize character and parade performers in California occurred over 40 years after their counterparts portraying Mickey, Goofy, and Donald Duck in Florida were organized by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union typically representing transportation workers. During that period, Florida performers voiced grievances about dirty costumes and mistreatment from guests, including incidents where children would kick the shins of Disney villains like Captain Hook.