Disneyland’s costumed characters and parade performers have announced their intent to unionize.
Calling themselves “Magic United,” cast members in the Anaheim resort’s Characters and Parades departments said Tuesday that they plan to unionize with Actors’ Equity Assn., which represents 51,000 professional actors and stage members on Broadway and in live theater around the country.
Labor organizers have begun circulating union authorization cards to 1,700 Disneyland workers and said they will seek voluntary recognition from the company when a majority have signed.
If Disney declines to recognize the union, Actors’ Equity Assn. will file the cards with the National Labor Relations Board, which will schedule a union recognition election for the cast members.
“We believe that our cast members deserve to have all the facts and the right to a confidential vote that recognizes their individual choices,” Disneyland said in a statement.
In addition to character actors — who play roles such as Mickey Mouse, Snow White and Cinderella — and assorted parade performers, the bargaining unit also includes hosts, trainers, leads and other workers who support the cast members .