Disneyland forged members who help bring Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and other beloved characters to life on the Southern California resort have decided to unionize after a three-day vote that culminated Saturday.
The Actors’ Equity Association union said in a press release Saturday that forged members within the parade and character departments at Disney’s theme parks near Los Angeles voted overwhelmingly to let the union develop into the bargaining agent for the group of about 1,700 employees .
An association website tracking ballot voting showed 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 fought to form a union, their dream has come true today,” said Actors President Kate Shindle ‘ Equity Association, in a press release on Saturday evening.
Shindle called the employees the “front lines” of the Disneyland guest experience. The association and forged members would discuss improvements in health and safety, wages, advantages, working conditions and job security before meeting with Walt Disney Company officials to barter personnel priorities in a contract, she said.
The union already represents theater artists at Disney parks in Florida.
Assuming there are not any election challenges, the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board will certify the outcomes inside per week, the association said.
The NLRB didn’t immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press searching for confirmation or additional information concerning the vote.
The elections took place on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Anaheim, California, after employees filed cards to form the Magic United entity earlier this yr.
Parade and character employees pushing for unionization said they love helping create a magical experience at Disneyland but became concerned once they were asked to hug visitors again after they left during had returned to work because of the coronavirus pandemic. They also said they suffer injuries from complex costumes and irregular schedules.
Most of the greater than 35,000 employees on the Disneyland Resort, including cleaners, pyrotechnics specialists and security guards, are already in unions. The resort includes Disneyland, the Walt Disney Co.’s oldest theme park, in addition to Disney California Adventure and the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district in Anaheim.
In recent years, Disney has faced accusations its employees in Southern California, who struggle with exorbitant housing costs and sometimes travel long distances or cram into small homes, are unable to pay a livable wage. Parade performers and character actors earn a base salary of $24.15 an hour, up from $20 before January, with bonuses for various roles.
Union membership is at one Decades of decline within the United States, but organizations have experienced growing public support in recent times high-profile Contract negotiations with Hollywood studios and hotels in Las Vegas. The NLRB, which protects employees’ rights to arrange, reported greater than 2,500 requests for union representation in fiscal yr 2023, the very best number in eight years.
The effort to arrange character and parade performers in California got here greater than 40 years after the International Brotherhood of organized Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck performers in Florida Wagonersa union traditionally known for representing transportation employees.
At the time, Florida forged members complained about dirty costumes and abuse from guests, including children who kicked Disney villains like Captain Hook within the shins.
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