In a notable ruling, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has greenlit a group of Disneyland performers—those who bring “Pirates of the Caribbean” characters to life in the Fantasmic! show—to join an established union of other theme park cast members. This decision, handed down by the board, overturns a previous ruling that the pirate performers should form their own separate bargaining unit.
The dispute centered around a small group of around 20 performers who portray iconic characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann, reenacting scenes on the Black Pearl ship in Disneyland’s riverside Fantasmic! show. The performers petitioned in late 2022 to join a union, arguing they shared much in common with other unionized cast members such as dancers, singers, acrobats, and stunt performers.
Initially, an NLRB regional director ruled that the pirate crew’s distinct job functions, supervision, and training separated them from other performers at Disneyland, suggesting they form their own union. Despite this, the performers voted unanimously to unionize. Seeking greater collective bargaining power, the union requested the NLRB to reconsider and allow the pirate performers to join the larger existing bargaining unit.
The board’s decision acknowledged that, while there are differences in the pirates’ working conditions, these differences did not outweigh the similarities they share with other performers. Disneyland’s specialty performers—including the pirates—engage in a variety of highly skilled activities, such as acrobatics, choreography, and stage combat. With this ruling, the case now returns to the regional director to set up a new election, further solidifying the pirates’ role in Disneyland’s broader union efforts.
This decision comes on the heels of a major victory for Disneyland’s unions. In July, representatives for 14,000 Disneyland employees reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with the company, staving off a looming strike.
