In a significant development shaping the labor landscape at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, the beloved characters of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy have joined a growing movement seeking improved employment conditions and representation.
Following a decisive three-day voting process last week, 1,700 Disneyland Resort cast members responsible for embodying characters throughout the theme park and participating in parades have chosen to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, announced the union on Saturday night. With an overwhelming majority, 953 cast members voiced their support for unionization, while 258 cast their dissent.
This decision marks the culmination of an organizing effort initiated by the group in February, leading to a formal vote filed with the National Labor Relations Board in April. Against the backdrop of more than 21,000 Disneyland “cast member” employees already represented by numerous unions across various roles, character performers had hitherto remained excluded from union representation.
Kate Shindle, President of Actors’ Equity Association, underscored the significance of this milestone, emphasizing the pivotal role character performers play in shaping guests’ experiences at the theme park. Shindle expressed a commitment to collaborating with the newly unionized workers to address a spectrum of concerns, spanning health and safety protocols, wages, benefits, working conditions, and job security.
With the labor relations board poised to certify the results in the coming week, negotiations between the union and The Walt Disney Company are slated to commence. Equity expressed confidence in Disney’s cooperative approach, citing a history of positive engagement with the company.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Disneyland Resort conveyed that the company would refrain from commenting on the unionization vote until the election results are officially certified. However, the company affirmed its commitment to respecting the voices of cast members and providing avenues for constructive dialogue on labor representation. The move towards unionization among Disneyland’s character performers mirrors 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.
