Disneyland performers have voted to unionize in order to improve working conditions and negotiate for better wages and benefits. The Actors’ Equity Association labor union announced that cast members voted by a wide margin in favor of the union becoming their bargaining agent. This decision follows concerns over health and safety, wages, benefits, and job security, particularly with regards to returning to hugging visitors after the coronavirus pandemic and dealing with injuries from costumes and erratic schedules. The union aims to work with Walt Disney Company representatives to address these issues and create a contract that reflects the staff’s priorities.
Most of the 35,000 workers at the Disneyland Resort, including cleaning crews, pyrotechnic specialists, and security staff, are already part of labor unions. The resort, which includes Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney in Anaheim, has faced allegations of not adequately compensating its Southern California workers given the high cost of living in the area. Parade performers and character actors earn a base pay of $24.15 an hour, with additional premiums for different roles. This effort to unionize comes at a time when union membership has been declining in the United States but has seen growing public support in high-profile negotiations involving Hollywood studios and Las Vegas hotels.
The unionization of character and parade performers at Disneyland in Southern California follows a similar move more than 40 years ago in Florida, where those playing iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were organized by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This decision to unionize reflects a trend towards workers seeking better representation and protections in the workplace, as seen in the increasing number of filings for union representation with the NLRB. The NLRB, which protects workers’ right to organize, reported over 2,500 filings during the 2023 fiscal year, the highest number in eight years.
The unionization of Disneyland performers highlights the importance of labor rights and workers’ voices in ensuring fair treatment and improved conditions in the workplace. The decision to unionize reflects the efforts of cast members to advocate for their rights and concerns, particularly in the face of challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic and complex working conditions. By coming together as a union, Disneyland performers hope to address issues such as health and safety, wages, benefits, and job security in their negotiations with the Walt Disney Company. This move towards unionization also aligns with broader trends in the labor movement towards greater support for workers’ rights and representation in various industries around the country.
