Magic United, an affiliate of Actors' Equity representing 1,700 parade, show, and character performers at Disneyland, is in negotiations with the company for its first contract. The union states that Disney has proposed eliminating paid parental leave and offering a zero percent wage increase in the first year of the contract, citing California's high cost of living and recent inflation.
Disneyland employees in the Characters and Parades department, who previously remained nonunion, voted to organize in 2024. According to the union, proposals from Disney would effectively cause workers to lose existing benefits, such as paid parental leave, by excluding them from the initial contract.
"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," Al Vincent Jr., Actors’ Equity’s Executive Director, told the Los Angeles Times. The union also claims Disney wants to reduce paid holidays, decrease 401(k) contributions, and make it more difficult for workers to swap shifts without managerial approval.
A Disneyland Resort spokesperson, Jessica Jakary, contested these claims, stating to Fox News Digital that the resort "values its cast members, offers competitive benefits and is proud of its long history of working collaboratively with the unions that represent them." Disney also noted that unlike in Florida, California provides state disability payments for parental leave.
Disney stated that its proposal does not limit shift trading but rather the number of times a cast member can give away a shift without managerial approval. The company also indicated it has proposed wage increases over the term of the agreement and has continued to provide annual increases to this bargaining unit, citing a 4% increase for full-time and part-time cast members as of December 2025.