Mickey Mouse, Sleeping Beauty, Iron Man and other Disneyland employees who work with Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars character performers have moved one step closer to unionizing, according to the union organizing workers.
Disneyland’s 1,700 character and parade performers calling themselves Magic United filed a petition on Wednesday, April 17 with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, according to the union.
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“Those of us who are organizing with Magic United and Actors’ Equity Association love working for Disney,” Disneyland Character Department employee Angela Nichols said in a statement released by the union. “There really is nothing to compare it to, but we believe improvements can be made to our workplace.”
A campaign launched in February has gathered union authorization signatures from more than 60% of the eligible Disneyland character and parade performers, according to Equity. The union has notified Disney of the signed petitions and is waiting to see if the company grants voluntary recognition.
If Disney does not recognize Magic United, a union election with the NLRB will be held at Disneyland in May or June, according to Equity.
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“We believe that our cast members deserve to have all the facts and the right to a confidential vote that recognizes their individual choices,” according to Disneyland officials.
Equity has been circulating a list of key issues facing nonunion Disneyland characters and parade performers that include pay, annual raises, safety, costumes, scheduling, seniority and job security.
“The most magical place on Earth is not magical backstage,” Disneyland Character Department employee Alexis Velasco said in a statement released by the union. “There are so many safety issues and other challenges that need to be addressed.”
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Disney princesses, Marvel superheroes and other character performers who work at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure make $24.15 per hour and an additional $4.75 per hour if they perform onstage, according to the Disney Auditions website.
Disneyland character and parade performer base pay increased from $20 to $24.15 per hour in January.
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Nonunion hourly employees like Disneyland characters and parade performers have received annual raises, usually in January, for as long as company records show, according to Disneyland officials.
While most of Disneyland’s 35,000 employees are represented by 26 unions, the park’s 1,100 character performers and 600 parade performers and support staff are not unionized.
After a lengthy court fight, Anaheim’s Measure L boosted Disneyland’s minimum wage to nearly $20 an hour. California’s minimum wage increased to $16 an hour in 2024.