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Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy file for union vote at Disneyland

Disneyland employees who perform as many of the theme park’s beloved characters have filed to have a vote on whether to join the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents live performers all over the country, from actors on Broadway to strippers in Los Angeles.

Several of the employees who spoke with CNN ahead of Wednesday’s announcement said that even the new higher pay level is still not a livable wage in Southern California, given that many of the workers work only part time. Elefante and other Disney cast members say they have a deep, emotional connection to the shows they perform in, knowing that they get to make a story come to life in front of people young and old. Asked about the concerns raised by Elefante and Vo, a Disney spokesperson pointed to company policies that said schedule changes are based on the safety of visitors and employees, such as the case of inclement weather, and that no notice is required when that operational necessity is applied.

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