Disneyland and the Character Performers Union Are at a Collective Bargaining Impasse
All the way back in 2024, Disneyland character and parade performers began collective bargaining with resort management over their first union contract.
Calling themselves Magic United, the performers said they were seeking improvements in safety, scheduling, benefits, and wages that keep pace with California’s cost of living.
Photo: Magic United
“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,” Cast Members wrote in a letter to Disneyland Labor Relations.
“We love the work we do. And we are proud to be a part of one of the greatest legacies in modern entertainment. Magic United invites The Walt Disney Company to voluntarily recognize our union and work with us to enhance an essential aspect of Walt Disney’s vision for his theme park – the transcendent magic of live entertainment.”
Photo: Magic United on Instagram
While negotiations between Magic United and Disneyland began in October 2024, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.
The Two Sides Are Still Negotiating
According to a new report from the Los Angeles Times, Disneyland’s latest proposal has drawn criticism from the union’s 1,700 members because it does not include paid parental leave, eliminates one paid holiday (Easter), and reduces how much Disney would match employee contributions to 401(k) retirement plans.
Photo: Also Disney
“They are trying to strip away the very things that make the Disneyland experience what it is,” said Al Vincent Jr., Actors’ Equity’s executive director. “When you propose to take away paid parental leave from those who work day in and day out to give other families great experiences, that’s not family friendly.”
Notably, Disneyland previously offered paid parental leave to these Cast Members and provided paid time off for 12 holidays.
Photo: Disney
Now that the employees have unionized, however, those benefits are instead being negotiated as part of their first collective bargaining agreement.
“It feels like the benefits and also the perks that we have enjoyed for a long time keep vanishing,” said Todd Stubbler, a 35-year Disneyland employee.
Collective Bargaining Is Ongoing
For its part, Disneyland maintains that it is not cutting benefits.
“Disneyland Resort values its cast members, offers competitive benefits and is proud of its long history of working collaboratively with the unions that represent them,” Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Jessica Jakary said.
Magic United
Other sticking points in the negotiations include how many shifts Cast Members can trade without managerial approval and the union’s request for a pay increase during the first year of the contract.
Despite the ongoing disagreements, negotiations between Disneyland and Magic United are expected to continue.
Photo: MickeyBlog
