Disneyland’s parade and character performers say Disney wants to take away paid parental leave. That’s according to a new report from the Los Angeles Times on the two sides’ ongoing contract talks. The 1,700 workers are represented by Actors’ Equity Association under the name Magic United. They began bargaining in October 2024 and still haven’t reached an agreement. Their union says Disney’s latest proposal also cuts a paid holiday and reduces the company’s 401(k) match.

Union Says Disney’s Contract Offer Cuts Parental Leave and Benefits

According to an email reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, a Disneyland Cast Member wrote that Disney’s contract proposal to the union does not include paid parental leave. That same email said Disney wants to reduce paid holidays for full-time Magic United workers from 12 to 11. Disney reportedly wants to eliminate Easter as a paid holiday.

Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Jessica Jakary told the LA Times that proposals can change during negotiations. She noted this is a brand-new bargaining unit establishing its first contract, not modifying existing terms. Because of that, she said, no benefits are technically being cut. Jakary added that the proposed 11 holidays match what more than 80% of Disneyland Resort employees already receive.

Union leaders see it differently. Actors’ Equity executive director Al Vincent Jr. said Disney is trying to strip away the things that define the Disneyland experience. Taking parental leave from the people who create magic for other families isn’t family-friendly, he said.

Workers received paid parental leave before they organized, since Disney set those terms on its own. Once the workforce voted to unionize, the company and the union started negotiating a first contract from scratch. That process treats existing benefits as unguaranteed. It’s also the root of the disagreement: Disney says nothing is being cut, while the union says workers are losing what they had.

Disney currently offers up to eight weeks of paid parental leave. Workers can also apply for California’s state family leave program. That program can replace 70 to 90 percent of a worker’s salary depending on income. Last year, 25 people in the bargaining unit took baby bonding leave, according to the union.

Base pay in the unit starts at $26 an hour for parade and pageant helpers. Stage scheduling assistants start at $28.25 an hour, according to the union, and about 60% of the unit works part-time.

Beyond leave and pay, the union says Disney’s proposal would limit how often a worker can give away a shift without manager approval. Cast members told the LA Times that shift trades help them manage pregnancy and other jobs. The trades also help cover the cost of living in Southern California.

One Disneyland entertainment host who gave birth in July said that swapping shifts let her avoid physically demanding assignments late in her pregnancy. She traded shifts at least once a week over the past year, she told the LA Times, and called Disney’s flexibility on coverage a major help. The same Cast Member also said paid parental leave mattered to her recovery from an unplanned cesarean section.

Disney entertainment unions at other theme parks already have paid parental leave. That list includes Teamsters-represented character performers at Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s IATSE Local 504 stage managers.

The union says it plans to keep negotiating with Disney toward a first contract.

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!