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CNN
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Disneyland staff who carry out as numerous Disney characters on the theme park are searching for to affix the Actor’s Fairness Affiliation, which represents every thing from actors on Broadway to strippers in Los Angeles.
The union is searching for to characterize the 1,700 Disneyland staff within the characters and parades departments on the park. It mentioned after three days of gathering playing cards signed by staff, it already has greater than the 30% assist wanted to file for a illustration vote with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board, which oversees such elections. However it mentioned it’s ready till it has the assist of a minimum of 60% earlier than submitting for such a vote or searching for voluntary recognition of the union by Disney.
Performers doing the identical work at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, are already in a union and have been for years. And till not too long ago the Disney World performers had been paid greater than their Disneyland counterparts, in response to the union.
The union contract reached between a coalition of unions and administration at Disney World final yr pays the performers a minimal hourly wage that ranges from $21.30 to $23.00, in response to the union. The Disneyland performers had been getting $20 an hour till the union organizing drive started late final yr. The minimal pay went as much as $24.15 an hour on the finish of final yr, in response to the union.
However the price of residing is considerably larger in Orange County, California, the place Disneyland is situated, than in Orlando. In keeping with knowledge from the Council for Neighborhood and Financial Analysis, the price of residing is 50% larger in Orange County, California. Housing prices, that are greater than twice as costly, are the first motive, however costs are increased throughout a number of classes.
There are greater than 21,000 Disneyland staff, who’re known as forged members by the corporate, who’re represented by greater than a dozen unions. These unionized jobs embody every thing from retail and meals service employees to safety guards, hair and make-up artists and pyrotechnic employees. However not the performers who costume up as characters reminiscent of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy and work together with guests.
“They love working at Disneyland. That doesn’t imply they don’t want sufficient cash to dwell on,” Kate Shindle, president of Actor’s Fairness, instructed CNN. The 51,000-member union is 111 years outdated, making it one of many oldest American unions exterior of railroads.
“Everyone acknowledges that Disneyland is a particular place, she added. “However magic alone doesn’t pay the lease.”
The union already represents a few of the Disney World performers.
The corporate had solely restricted touch upon the organizing effort.
“We imagine that our forged members should have all of the details and the fitting to a confidential vote that acknowledges their particular person selections,” Disney mentioned in an announcement.
Disney has struggled not too long ago, with continued losses in its streaming service, layoffs and different cost cutting efforts, questions in regards to the future of its various media properties, and activist investor Nelson Peltz attempting to win two seats on Disney’s board.
However its home parks and experiences unit is essentially the most worthwhile a part of the corporate, producing income of $6.3 billion within the final three months of 2023, up 4% from a yr earlier, and working revenue of $2.1 billion, down 2% from a yr earlier. That revenue represented greater than half of the general working revenue of $3.9 billion for the quarter.
Correction: A earlier model of this story misstated the share of present assist for a union illustration vote. It’s now above 30%.
– CNN’s Samantha Delouya contributed to this report