Mickey Mouse and Cinderella move forward with formal unionization against unfair wages and unsafe living conditions

Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and nearly 2,000 other Disney cast members are officially voting to unionize away from the House of Mouse, as unfair wages and unsafe living conditions are why they want to unite under one goal.

Arrival at Disneyland in May – A union election for 1,700 Disney characters and parade artists

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said an on-site union election will be held at Disneyland from May 15-18 for Disney cast members engaged in character performances or parade duties at Disneyland, California Adventure and at Disney-operated hotels in Anaheim.

Last month, on April 17, a significant majority of the 1,700 people responsible for bringing Disney characters to life during Disneyland Resort’s parades, meet-and-greets and character dinners filed a petition for an election with the NLRB seeking union recognition under the Actors Act. ‘ Equity Association as representative in collective negotiations. These Cast Members, including artists, animators, leads and trainers, believe that their livelihoods and the overall guest experience at Disneyland could benefit from collective bargaining with their employer, The Walt Disney Company.

Although the majority of the Disneyland workforce is already unionized, the absence of union representation persists, particularly within the Characters and Parades departments. This gap is particularly striking given that their counterparts performing identical roles at Walt Disney World in Florida have been unionized for several decades. Voting for the union election is scheduled on site at Disneyland on Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16, and Saturday, May 18.

Eligible voters will vote at three designated polling locations each day. Cast Members affiliated with the Character or Parades departments will be directed to a specific voting location based on their first scheduled shift for the week. The final election results are expected to be announced on the evening of Saturday May 18.

Although media representatives will not have access to polling locations, union activists will be available for interviews throughout the election period. Further details regarding the announcement of election results will be provided in a later notice.

When filing the petition for a union election with the NLRB on April 17, Actors’ Equity Association President Kate Shindle said, “Our goal is to bring a little more joy to the ‘place the happiest person on the planet. Equity has built strong relationships with Disney, trading with them at Walt Disney World in Orlando and Disney Theatricals on Broadway and on national tours. We look forward to engaging with their representatives at the bargaining table and working collaboratively to make Disneyland Resort a fairer and safer place to work.

Founded in 1955, the Disneyland Resort, comprising Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure, three hotels and Downtown Disney, has become one of the most visited themed entertainment destinations in the world. The Actors’ Equity Association, established in 1913, is the American union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers.

Equity is committed to advancing the careers of its members by negotiating salaries, improving working conditions and providing a full range of benefits, including health and retirement provisions. The potential unionization of the Character and Parade departments could mean several significant changes for Disneyland cast and performers.

Unionizing can lead to the negotiation of better working conditions, including fair wages, benefits, and job security for actors and performers. This could result in better financial stability and greater job satisfaction within these departments. By forming a union, actors and artists gain collective bargaining power, allowing them to negotiate on equal terms with their employer, The Walt Disney Company.