I used to work at a “magical theme park” in Entertainment. While there, it quickly became apparent that unionizing was a running joke among cast members. This was because those that weren't in a union knew they'd never get one, and those that were got stuck with crappy ones that basically worked in the interest of the company.
The biggest example I remember happened a few years ago. There was a show geared towards children that utilized puppets (this show had been around for YEARS – I believe I heard once that Miranda Sings was in it before she was Miranda Sings). Some of the performers in that show were aptly called “Puppeteers”.
When it got back to Disney that the Puppeteers wanted to join the national puppeteering union, they canceled the entire show, fired everyone in it, and rebuilt the show with character performers (who are non-union).
Fun fact: That version of the show is still running today.
Other ways that I watched Disney union bust:
- when a character performer mentioned unionizing, they were casually told that there were, “500 others waiting at an audition to take their place.”
- any time a puppet was used after the aforementioned show was canceled, it was referred to as an, “articulated rig”. If you called them puppets, you were corrected and “talked to”.
- when characters performed on a stage (crucial during Covid and Halloween events), it was called an, “elevated platform” to avoid them trying to become part of AGVA (a national actor's guild). You weren't allowed to call it a stage, and if you did then you were corrected and “talked to”. There were actually AGVA performers in the parks, but characters couldn't audition for any of their roles because that would make them union performers.
- characters weren't allowed a mic for the same reason. When they did have a mic, it was very hush hush. That's why during covid Halloweentime, a certain Bone Daddy and Ragdoll were literally yelling from the balcony of the Mansion over extremely loud music. They both regularly lost their voices from this.
I have so many stories of the mistreatment I experienced and witnessed in my almost ten years with that company. While I loved my job (I stayed for a reason) it finally got to be too much and I moved on to better things. Thinking about how horribly people are treated and the way they get away with it makes my blood boil.
They get away with it by taking advantage of the brand love and childhood nostalgia that brings people to work there in the first place. And sadly, they'll probably continue to get away with it for the same reasons. Because as workers, we were replaceable.