Hundreds of Disneyland Resort employees, dressed in their iconic costumes, protested outside the theme parks on Wednesday, demanding better wages and decrying alleged anti-union practices by the company.
The rally, organized by unions representing 14,000 Disneyland employees, featured signs reading “Mickey would want fair pay” and “Disney, don’t be the villain.”
Ginny Cristales, a 44-year-old Disneyland employee, emphasized that a strike is a last resort, but necessary if Disney doesn’t comply with their demands. She alleged that Disney has intimidated employees, reprimanding over 500 workers for wearing union pins featuring Mickey Mouse’s gloved fist.
The National Labor Relations Board is investigating these allegations, which Disney claims violate their “Disney Look” dress code. Employees will vote on authorizing a strike on Friday, with contract talks scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.
Cristales, a mother of four, expressed that her $2,800 monthly wage barely covers her family’s rent. “We make the magic, they make the money,” protesters chanted, highlighting the disparity between Disney’s $2 billion park investment and their refusal to pay workers a living wage.
Organizers estimated 1,000 protesters attended the rally, with several hundred marching to the park’s perimeter before being redirected to a nearby car park. The potential strike would be historic, as Disneyland resort employees have not gone on strike since 1984.
