Disneyland’s largest union coalition took its fight for a pay raise to the streets by handing out Mickey Mouse raised fist buttons to visitors entering the Anaheim theme park.
Disneyland union employees distributed buttons on Monday, July 1 with the Disney icon’s white gloved hand raised in a fist as a symbol of fighting oppression and asked arriving theme park visitors to sign a petition in support of union contract negotiations seeking fair wages.
Cast members, Disney parlance for employees, handed out the buttons with Mickey’s cartoon fist at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Disney Way while wearing their theme park uniforms.
Candy maker Daisy Molina joins other Disney union members as they pass out buttons and ask visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)h
Pixar Pier attractions operator Ruth Lopez, left, joins other Disney union members as they pass out buttons and ask visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Disney union members pass out buttons and ask visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jungle Cruise Skipper Gabriel Ramos keeps up the Jungle Cruise-style humor as he joins other Disney union members passing out buttons and asking visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pixar Pier attractions operators Ruth Lopez, right, and Vinny Ramano, join other Disney union members as they pass out buttons and ask visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Connie Fernandez, a Tomorrowland retail worker, joins other Disney union members as they pass out buttons and ask visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Andi Gallagher, a Fantasyland attractions worker, joins other Disney union members as they pass out buttons and ask visitors to sign a petition supporting their fight for a contract with the theme park company outside the Harbor Boulevard entrance Monday, July 1, 2024 in Anaheim, CA.
(Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Master Services Council, which represents 13,000 Disneyland employees from four unions, filed unfair labor practice charges in early June on behalf of more than 500 workers who were disciplined for wearing union buttons with Mickey’s raised fist.
“Disneyland Resort cast members may only wear buttons and pins that are a part of their costumes while at work so that the show is maintained for our guests,” according to Disneyland officials.
Disneyland cast members may be asked to remove any item that’s not part of the Disney Look and could receive a verbal warning and disciplinary action for repeated violations, according to Disneyland officials.
Disney Look dress code guidelines that famously regulate on-stage costumes, hairstyles, mustaches, beards, sideburns, nail polish and jewelry have been loosened in recent years to introduce more diversity and inclusivity into Disney’s theme parks, workforce and company culture.
The union coalition — which has been negotiating with Disney over a new contract since April — represents ride operators, store clerks, custodians, candy makers and other cast members, Disney parlance for employees. The contract expired June 16.
