In a groundbreaking turn of events, the labor dispute at Medieval Times’ Southern California castle has taken an unexpected twist. The castle’s sound and lighting technicians have announced their intention to unionize, marking yet another rebellion within the castle’s walls. This comes after the castle’s show cast formed their own union last year and has been on strike since February.
In a letter expressing their intentions, the technicians cited the mistreatment they received from management during their co-workers’ strike as a driving force behind their decision to unionize. Allegations of sabotage were leveled against them unjustly. Seeking better treatment and working conditions, the technicians plan to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 504, the union that represents stagehands at Disneyland. They also call for improved safety measures and wages that meet industry standards.
With careful consideration and months of deliberation, the technicians have made this decision to secure a better future for their department and drive the desired changes. The bargaining unit would consist of approximately a dozen employees.
Medieval Times has faced significant challenges in suppressing the worker uprising that began last summer. The show cast, knights, and stablehands at the New Jersey castle joined the American Guild of Variety Artists, and this movement quickly spread to the California castle. However, until now, the technical workers responsible for the company’s shows had not sought union representation. If successful, this effort in California could inspire workers at other castles to follow suit.
Emily Schmidt, a sound and lighting technician, revealed that unionizing had been a topic of discussion among the technicians. Many technical jobs in the entertainment industry are already unionized, and the strike heightened their determination to seek union representation.
The castle’s show cast and knights initiated an “unfair labor practice” strike on February 11, accusing the company of negotiating in bad faith and attempting to silence them on social media. While the technicians were not part of the union, they expressed solidarity with the strikers in their fight for improved working conditions. It was during the castle’s picket line that the sound and lighting technicians connected with representatives from IATSE.
Medieval Times has consistently opposed workers’ efforts to unionize, employing anti-union consultants and holding meetings intended to discourage unionization. The company even filed a lawsuit against AGVA, alleging trademark infringement due to the union’s name and logo. Additionally, the company appeared to file trademark infringement complaints against the union workers’ social media accounts, resulting in the banning of their TikTok account. Workers filed unfair labor practice charges against the company, accusing it of trying to intimidate them into silence.
Although the sound and lighting workers have requested voluntary recognition of their union by the company, it is unlikely considering the company’s history of opposition. Thus, a secret-ballot election organized by the labor board seems more plausible, provided enough workers sign union cards. According to an IATSE representative, the union enjoys overwhelming support among workers in the proposed bargaining unit.
In their letter to management, the workers expressed pride and excitement in joining an organization that treats its members with dignity and respect. This unionization effort marks a significant step towards improving conditions for Medieval Times’ workers and ensuring their voices are heard.
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