In a significant development for labor relations at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, the iconic characters of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy are now part of a growing wave of workers seeking enhanced employment benefits and representation.
Following a three-day voting process last week, 1,700 Disneyland Resort cast members responsible for portraying characters throughout the theme park and participating in parades have opted to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, announced the union on Saturday night. Describing the vote as a “landslide victory,” Equity reported that 953 cast members voted in favor of unionization, with 258 opposed.
This decision marks the culmination of an organizing effort initiated by the group in February, culminating in a formal vote filed with the National Labor Relations Board in April. The move comes amidst a backdrop where more than 21,000 Disneyland “cast member” employees are already represented by over a dozen unions, spanning various roles such as retail, food service, security, pyrotechnics, and hair and makeup. Notably, until now, character performers, embodying beloved Disney figures like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella, had remained excluded from union representation.
Actors’ Equity Association President Kate Shindle highlighted the significance of this milestone, emphasizing the pivotal role played by character performers in shaping guests’ experiences at the theme park. Shindle expressed a commitment to collaborating with the newly unionized workers to address concerns related to health and safety, wages, benefits, working conditions, and job security.
With the labor relations board expected to certify the results in the coming week, contract negotiations between the union and The Walt Disney Company are poised to commence. Equity expressed optimism regarding Disney’s cooperative stance throughout the process, citing a longstanding positive relationship with the company.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Disneyland Resort indicated that it is premature for the company to comment on the unionization vote until the election results are officially certified. However, the company affirmed its respect for the opportunity provided to cast members to voice their opinions on labor representation.
The move towards unionization among Disneyland’s character performers parallels a historical precedent set by Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where character actors have been represented by the Teamsters since the 1980s. Additionally, more than 400 actors, stunt performers, and singers at Disney World unionized under Equity in 1990, with the union estimating representation for around 800 cast members at present.
