Disneyland's character performers vote to unionize

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News/AP

May 18, 2024 / 11:59 PM EDT


Workers who portray iconic Disney characters and perform in parades at the entertainment giant's Southern California theme parks have voted to join the Actors Equity Association, the union announced Saturday night.

In a National Labor Relations Board vote, 79% of the Disneyland Resort's cast members voted to join Equity, with 953 voting in favor and 258 against, the union said.

If there are no election challenges, the vote will be certified within a week, Equity said.

"The next step will be to collaborate with them (the workers) about improving health & safety, wages, benefits, working conditions and job security," Actors' Equity Association President Kate Shindle said in a statement. "After that we will meet with representatives of the Walt Disney Company to negotiate those priorities into a first contract."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/disneyland-character-performerers-vote-to-unionize-anaheim-southern-california-actors-equity-association/

[Maeve]

1. Good! The "cast members" should get improved contracts

Two daughters interned for Disney in college, one went on to work there for several years. ALL employees are called "cast members" but treated as if they should thank the mouse they are allowed to work there. It's time for change and starting with the character actors is a good thing.

[GreenWave]

2. Oh. you can't fool me. I'm sticking with the union.

[cstanleytech]

3. So can Disney get around it by just hiring from temp agencies?

[OldBaldy1701E]

6. Either that or just re-classifying those people as something else.

That would remove their application to a 'performing' union. Never underestimate a major corporation in their ways of fixing things to their benefit. Never. Even a small concession here and there may give the appearance of agreeing to a union, but they are famous for 'sleeper' maneuvers, since they removed most Americans ability to pay attention to anything for longer than a few moments.

[cstanleytech]

7. So they could in theory reclassify them as groundskeepers to avoid it,

[OldBaldy1701E]

8. That would theoretically avoid EQUITY, but they could consider a union that covers those jobs. (n/t)

[cstanleytech]

9. So in essentially if Disney doesn't want the Union they have options to pretty much bypass it correct?

[OldBaldy1701E]

10. Our laws favor corporations.

We sat by while they rigged this. Now, I would say that yes, they could do that kind of thing all day long and never be held to their unethical ways. Such is modern business in America.

[LudwigPastorius]

4. ...because the inside a 115 degree Pluto costume is NOT the "happiest place on earth".

Congratulations to the Disney workers!

[MurrayDelph]

5. Are you telling me

that a six-foot tall, bipedal Pluto isn't real?