![]() “Something like this especially should have union protections. “It’s $18.50 to just jump off a moving horse that goes up to like 20, 30 miles an hour,” Wojcik said. ![]() But many of those picketing feel the strike is worth the discomfort in the long run. Graham Wojcik, who brought levity to the picket line by playing the flute for co-workers and guests, was knighted just three days before the strike - the early Saturday show was only his third performance before he and the other picketers walked out, and an experience he called “very, very nerve-racking.” Another picketer said that one of the queens who chose not to join them snickered at them as they walked out that day. Multiple picketers said Medieval Times LLC has flown in cast members from other castles, including those from the nearest location, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Glasmeier, professor of economic geography and regional planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The union is proposing raises that would bring all members at least to Orange County’s hourly living-wage minimum (currently listed at $23.66 for the region by Amy K. They make it seem as though we’re replaceable when we’re really not.”Ī pay increase, she says, would help her to fix her car and further her education. “They can’t really pick anyone off the street to do my job,” she said. Lizbeth Figueroa has been playing for eight years and currently makes just above minimum wage. The refusal to acknowledge trumpet players - a role that pays $16 hourly - is especially galling to the union’s organizers. they work hard all full eight-hour days, with lots of breaks.” “AGVA performers at Disneyland who do what these guys do get paid over $33 an hour,” Zapcic said, “and their shows are only 15 to 20 minutes long. The New Jersey location, which voted to unionize last July, is the only other castle to unionize thus far, and is represented by the same guild. In December the Buena Park performers - who voted to unionize in November - said they learned many of their counterparts throughout the country would be given sizable raises in 2023, while their own requests for hourly wage increases were going, in some cases, entirely ignored.Īccording to Zapcic, non-union castles were given raises upward of 20% at the union’s first bargaining session, a representative for the company proposed a 2% raise for speaking cast, no raise for trumpeters, a 2% increase for stablehands, and raises of 2% to 8% for knights - all of whom are included in the union, which is represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). The strike, which began Saturday, was spurred by a series of unsuccessful wage negotiations in addition to the deletion of hundreds of supposedly pro-union comments on social media and an October lawsuit that alleged trademark infringement on the union’s part. They have flat-out told us that they can afford to pay what we’re asking, but they don’t want to.” they continue to show us their true colors over and over and over again. Medieval Times has fought this every step of the way they have drawn this out as much as they possibly can. As exciting as it is to take a stand for something, we’re doing this because we felt like we had to. “We love our jobs,” said Erin Zapcic, who plays Queen Doña Maria Isabella and serves as a steward for the new union. ![]() 15, 2023 A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to Buena Park as Buena Vista in the lede. The picketers hoisted signs for colleagues and guests to read on their way in: “UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE” printed in bold, red letters.ġ:00 p.m. Some took turns in rotation flanking the entryway to the parking lot, waving at vehicles headed to the show and an evening of roast chicken, basted potatoes and corn on the cob all eaten hands-only with steins of ale at the ready. One played a flute, carnations attached at the far end, while two others sparred with fake swords. Nearly 20 union queens, knights, royal advisors, trumpeters and squires gathered in and near the smoking section, some wrapped in blankets, some clutching hot drinks on the 57-degree night. On Monday the scent of roast meat drifted through the parking lot as the sky dimmed. Newly unionized cast members are on strike at the Buena Park location of Medieval Times this week, calling for increased wages, better workplace conditions and less of what multiple cast members believe to be hostile responses from management at the world-famous dinner-theater chain.
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