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The People Who Play Mickey and Minnie Are Saying Disney World Is Violating Their Constitutional Rights
"ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — 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."