Disneyland cast members, particularly those who work in the resort’s Characters and Parades departments, announced their intent to unionize with the Actors’ Equity Association, also known as Equity, on Tuesday.
Known as “Magic United,” cast members who work in the departments began circulating union authorization cards to 1,700 of their colleagues and will “seek voluntary recognition from Disney Resort Entertainment when a majority of the workers have signed,” according to a news release from Equity.
Employees within the Character and Parade departments “create Disney magic for guests by bringing beloved characters to life in shows, meet and greets and character dining experiences,” the release adds.
Hosts, trainers, leads and other roles that support fellow cast members are also included in the bargaining unit.
The concerns among cast members noted in the statement revolve around “safe and sanitary workplace conditions, a fair wage and more transparency in scheduling and rehiring decisions.”
“When we can speak with a collective voice, we can have a clearer, more productive conversation with our employer. Ultimately, this will result in a better experience for all – Cast Members, managers and more importantly, our guests,” leaders of Magic United said in a statement.
It’s important to note that other departments around the Disneyland Resort, like food and beverage, have also unionized, and Character and Parade cast members at Walt Disney World in Florida have been unionized since the early 1980s.
The union creation isn’t a done deal yet. If Disney declines to recognize the union, Equity will then file the authorization cards with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Upon receiving the ‘petition,’ the NLRB will schedule a union recognition election for Cast Members in the Character and Parades Departments. The company will be required under federal labor law to sit down with Equity’s representatives at the bargaining table and negotiate a contract, following a vote in favor of unionization,” the release states.
In a statement to KTLA, Disneyland officials said, “We believe that our Cast Members deserve to have all the facts and the right to a confidential vote that recognizes their individual choices.”
Equity also represents 51,000 professional actors and stage managers on Broadway and live theatre across the U.S.