Disneyland character artists unite after overwhelming vote

Performers at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California who play characters such as Mickey Mouse and Goofy voted to unionize with the Actors’ Equity Association, the union announced, following an overwhelming vote that culminated this weekend.

The union said Saturday that performers voted 953 to 258 to unionize, clearing the 50% plus one margin needed to join. If there are no problems, the National Labor Relations Board could approve the election within a week.

“These workers are on the front lines of the Guest experience; they are the people who create lifelong memories when your children hug a character, or when your family watches a parade pass by the castle,” Kate Shindle, President of the Actors Equity Association. said in a press release.

Shindle said the union would focus on improving employment terms, conditions and job security in negotiating an initial contract.

The union represents other performers under the Disney umbrella, including performers and stage managers at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and Disney Theater performers and stage managers on Broadway and national tours.

In a statement, the Walt Disney Company said it would be premature for the company to comment on the results before they were certified, but respects that employees “had the opportunity to make their voices heard.”

Where Do Unions Stand Now?

The union victory in California comes after a mixed bag of results in the South that slowed organized labor’s momentum as the United Auto Workers won an organizing vote at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee but lost a vote at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14.4 million wage workers were unionized last year, a historically low figure in a year that saw the so-called “strike summer.”

According to the agency, nearly 30% of all active union members lived in California or New York.

Nearly 33% of workers in education, training and library professions were represented by a union, the highest percentage among the workforce. Police, firefighters and security guards came in a close second, with almost 32% represented by unions.

Where Do Unions Stand Now?

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