Disneyland Characters, California Parade Performers Vote to Join Union

ANAHEIM, California – Disneyland performers who help bring Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and other beloved characters to life at the Southern California resort have chosen to unionize after a three-day vote that culminated Saturday.

The Actors’ Equity Association union said in a statement Saturday that members of the parade cast and character departments at Disney theme parks near Los Angeles voted by a wide margin for the union to become the group’s bargaining agent for about of 1,700 workers.

An association website that tracks voting among cast members indicated approval by 78.7% (953 votes) in favor and 21.3% (258 votes) against.

“They say Disneyland is ‘the place where dreams come true,’ and for the Disney cast members who worked to organize a union, their dream came true today,” said Actors’ Equity Association president, Kate Shindle, in a statement Saturday night.

Shindle called workers the “front line” of the Disneyland guest experience. The association and cast members will discuss health and safety improvements, wages, benefits, working conditions and job security before meeting with Walt Disney Company representatives to negotiate the team’s priorities in a contract, she said.

The union already represents theater artists at Disney parks in Florida.

Barring any election challenges, the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board will certify the results within a week, the association said.

The NLRB did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking confirmation or additional information about the vote.

The election took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Anaheim, California, after workers submitted cards earlier this year to form the unit called “Magic United.”

Parade and character workers who pushed for unionization said they love helping create a magical experience at Disneyland, but were concerned when they were asked to return to hugging guests after returning to work during the coronavirus pandemic. They said they also suffer injuries due to complex costumes and erratic schedules.

Most of Disneyland Resort’s more than 35,000 workers, including cleaning crews, pyrotechnic experts and security personnel, are already in unions. The resort includes Disneyland, which is the Walt Disney Co.’s oldest theme park, as well as Disney California Adventure and the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district in Anaheim.

In recent years, Disney has faced accusations of not paying its Southern California workers, who face exorbitant housing costs and often commute long distances or crammed into small homes, a living wage. Parade performers and character actors earn a base salary of $24.15 per hour, up from $20 before January, with premiums for different roles.

Union membership has been in decline for decades in the United States, but the organizations have seen growing public support in recent years during high-profile contract negotiations involving Hollywood studios and Las Vegas hotels. The NLRB, which protects workers’ right to organize, reported more than 2,500 requests for union representation during fiscal year 2023, the highest number in eight years.

The effort to organize characters and parade performers in California comes more than 40 years after those playing Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck in Florida were organized by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union traditionally known for representing transportation workers.

At that time, Florida performers complained of dirty costumes and abuse from guests, including children kicking the shins of Disney villains such as Captain Hook.