Disneyland Cracks Down on Cast Members Wearing Union Pins

Unionized Cast Members at Disneyland are allegedly being mistreated. Why? Because hundreds of workers started wearing a ‘Disney Workers Rising’ pin.

KCAL reports that over 500 Cast Members have been penalized for wearing the pin. In response, The Mouse issued the following statement:

“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.“

It is also being reported that Disneyland disputes the number of employees who have been disciplined over this. The Walt Disney Company says that in “most cases,” the Cast Members are asked to take the pins off their costumes.

Disney calling the wearing of such pins “inappropriate” is ironic. Not too long ago, The Walt Disney Company drastically changed the dress code for Cast Members.

These workplace updates allowed for visible tattoos and piercings, along with several other amendments to improve LGBT inclusivity. However, wearing a simple Disney Workers Rising pin is too much.

Now, if the iconography used by union members was obscene, like PATCO‘s middle finger mouse logo, I could see Disney’s objection being reasonable. The pin in question just shows the slogan along with a cartoon gloved fist in the air.

In an LA Times article, one pin-wearing Cast Member says he was followed through the park by multiple managers. When the employee asked what action would be taken against him if he did not remove the union pin, he was told that his shift would be cut short.

Disney’s treatment of workers this way may lead to even more people joining the unions. It’s also a terrible image in the eyes of the general public.

Hundreds of Disneyland employees unionized with their fellow Cast Members earlier this year. The reasons ranged from better working conditions to increased pay.

[Source: KCAL]