Labor News & Commentary May 20, 2024 Disneyland performers vote to unionize and more

https://onlabor.org/may-20-2024/

By Holden Hopkins

Holden Hopkins is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s News & Commentary, Disneyland performers vote to unionize and unions secure a win in Congress’ reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration Act.

On Saturday, performers at Disneyland theme park voted overwhelmingly—953 to 258—in favor of unionizing. Organized as “Magic United” through Actors’ Equity, the new union will represent over 1,700 character and parade workers at the Anaheim, California park. Actors’ Equity has traditionally represented stage actors, but is now branching out. They previously organized Griffith Observatory tour guides in Los Angeles, and last year helped secure a union for the only unionized strip club at the time, the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar.

“These workers are on the front lines of the Guest experience; they’re the human beings who create lifelong memories when your kids hug a character, or when your family watches a parade roll by the castle,” stated Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity, in a press release following the win.

Campaigning on the slogan “Magic doesn’t pay our rent,” employees fought for better pay, schedules, and enhanced workplace health and safety conditions. As Divya noted last month in reporting on the filing of the election petition, the character actors and support staff will now join the 21,000 other Disneyland employees, including retail and food services workers, security guards, make-up artists and pyrotechnics workers, who already have union representation.

FULL story at link above.