Disney World’s
confidentiality warning riles actors’ union
A continuation of
reports like
Fired in the good
old USA America
The people behind
the mask could be underpaid immigrants?
MIKE SCHNEIDER
Associated Press ORLANDO
Who’s underneath
that Mickey Mouse mask? Walt Disney World doesn’t want you to know, and the
actors who play Disney characters at the theme parks say that’s a violation of
their constitutional rights.
A union representing
actors who portray Mickey, Goofy and other characters filed a complaint Friday
with the National Labor Relations Board, challenging a policy that it says
prevents the performers from revealing which animated figures they portray.
Teamsters Local 385
said in the complaint that Disney was committing an unfair labor practice. A
grievance was filed last week with the company. The two-week-old written policy
prevents actors from publicly revealing in social media or traditional media which
characters they play, according to the union.
Violations could
lead to disciplinary action including firing, said Donna-Lynne Dalton,
recording secretary for the Teamsters local. So far, she said, none of the
1,200 character actors at Walt Disney World have faced any disciplinary action.
“The performers are
very concerned because you can’t un-tell somebody something,” Dalton said.
“They have family and friends that already know this and have pictures of
themselves in their performing roles. It’s out there.”
The confidentiality
policy had been a subject of negotiations during past contract talks, but it
never made it into a contract, union officials said.
“The company doesn’t
have the right to control social media postings,” said Mike Stapleton,
president of the Teamsters local. “Suddenly the company wants to pretend there
aren’t people behind those costumes and the Constitution doesn’t extend to the
theme park.”
Disney spokeswoman
Jacquee Wahler said the company has always expected the performers not to
reveal the actors behind the characters.
“We’re proud of the
role characters play in guest experience,” Wahler said. “This is in line with
our longstanding expectation for cast members to uphold character integrity.”
And