ANAHEIM, California – Disneyland employees portraying various Disney characters at the theme park are calling to join the Actor’s Equity Association, which represents a wide range of performers in the entertainment industry.
The union is seeking to represent the 1,700 Disneyland employees in the characters and parades departments at the park. It mentioned that it has gathered more than 30% of the support from employees to file for a representation vote with the National Labor Relations Board. However, it is waiting to reach 60% support before taking further action.
Comparing the pay of Disneyland performers to those at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the union highlighted the disparity and emphasized the higher cost of living in Orange County, California, where Disneyland is located.
There are more than 21,000 Disneyland employees, referred to as cast members by the company, and represented by various unions. However, the performers portraying Disney characters are not part of any union.
President of Actor’s Equity, Kate Shindle, emphasized the need for sufficient wages for Disneyland performers to sustain themselves in a high-cost living area like Orange County. She also highlighted the significance of the union’s role in representing the interests of Disney World performers.
Disney has made limited comments regarding the union organizing effort, emphasizing that the cast members deserve to have all the facts and the right to a confidential vote that recognizes their individual choices.
The call for union representation at Disneyland comes at a time when Disney has been facing challenges such as continued losses in its streaming service, layoffs, and activist investor Nelson Peltz trying to win two seats on Disney’s board.
Despite these challenges, Disney’s domestic parks and experiences unit remains profitable, generating a significant portion of the company’s overall operating income.
As the debate on union representation at Disneyland continues, it raises important questions about fair wages and working conditions for the performers who bring the magic of Disney to life for millions of visitors each year.