Disneyland Cast Members Move One Step Closer to Unionizing as They File for Union Vote
By Trisha Andrada
Apr 18, 2024 09:40 AM EDT
© 2024 Copyright Venture Capital Post. All Rights reserved.
Apr 18, 2024 09:40 AM EDT
Disneyland cast members who work in the shows, parades, and visitor meet-and-greets at the amusement park are getting closer to becoming a union so they can finally have their voices heard.
According to Deadline, an election petition was filed by the Actors' Equity Association in the National Labor Relations Board to recognize it as a union.
Equity, which represents live performers across the country, will be the bargaining representative for Disneyland's Parades and Characters divisions. The union and the employees made the NLRB filing public on Wednesday.
(Photo : Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
Since the 1950s, when Disneyland Resort first opened, the cast members responsible for portraying the park's characters and performing in its parades have remained non-union.
Weeks ago, Equity launched a campaign seeking union authorization cards, and it has already received signatures from most of these individuals.
Equity President Kate Shindle said in a press release: "These performers and the Hosts, Leads, and Trainers who create magic alongside them know that their lives - as well as the Guest experience at Disneyland - can be improved through collective bargaining. They deserve a voice in their workplace, and meaningful negotiations over wages, benefits and working conditions."
On February 13, cast members calling themselves Magic United declared their desire to form a union.
Read Also: Disneyland Moves Closer to Expansion Plans as Anaheim City Council Approves $1.9 Billion Project
An overwhelming majority of the 1,700 eligible cast members have signed the union's petition requesting voluntary recognition, which was sent to The Walt Disney Company earlier this week.
In a unified letter delivered to the labor relations department, the Disneyland Resort cast members expressed their desire to continue working together.
In the letter to Disneyland Resort's Labor Relations, Magic United members wrote: "Our hope is to keep moving forward in collaboration. We believe improving our collective working conditions will have a direct impact on not only Cast Members' lives, but the caliber of entertainment we offer at Disneyland Resort."
The union will proceed to arrange for a union election with the NLRB since the corporation had yet to respond to the employees' letter. Deadline reported that an election will most likely occur in May or June unless the firm gives recognition.
Read More: Disney Reveals Theme Parks Make the Most Money, Plans to Invest $60 Billion to Make Them Even Better
© 2024 VCPOST.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.