Cinderella, Snow White and Mickey Mouse arrested as police clash with staff at Disneyland

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 10:06 AM on 15th August 2008

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Cinderella, Snow White and Tinker Bell have been handcuffed and hauled away by police at Disneyland in California.

Mickey Mouse was also among the cartoon favourites arrested for failing to obey a police officer after Disney hotel employees protesting about new work contracts brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Mickey in irons: A protesting hotel employee dressed as Mickey Mouse outside Disneyland in California

More than 30 maids, cooks and bell hops, many in costume, marched to the gates of the theme park from one of the hotels at the centre of the dispute.

Tourists stared as the costumed picketers were bundled into police vans after the protest shut a road for nearly an hour.

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Cartoon capers: Snow White is taken away by an officer

'It's changing my opinion of Disneyland,' said Amanda Kosato who was visiting from Melbourne.

'Taking away entitlements stinks.'

The workers say Disney's latest contract makes health care unaffordable for hundreds of employees and creates an unfair two-tier wage system at company hotels the Paradise Pier, the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel.

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Hardliners: Tinker Bell and Minnie Mouse were also held

'The other hotels around the area all have health care that is provided by the boss and have been able to get wage increases,' said Ava Briceno, president of Unite Here Local 681, which represents the workers.

'At the other hotels in the same classification, for the same work, the workers get paid $2 to $3 an hour more.'

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Protest: Mickey in action before his arrest

Disney spokeswoman Lisa Haines said that Disney and the union are in negotiations and nothing has been finalized.

She said workers have protested 14 times but sat down to negotiate only 11 times in the past six months.

'Clearly we're disappointed that Unite Here Local 681 has spent more time protesting,' she said.

'Publicity stunts are not productive and are extremely disruptive to the resort district.'

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Roundup: Peter Pan also felt the long arm of the law

Before the arrests, the picketers marched and chanted outside Paradise Pier, holding signs that read, 'Disney is unfaithful,' and 'Mickey, shame on you.'

They were joined by community activists and religious leaders from local churches.

Luz Vasquez, who works in the bakery at Disneyland Hotel, said she can't afford to lose many of her benefits.

'Disneyland is being unfair with us because we're fighting for our health care and they're trying to take it away,' said Vasquez, 45.

'They're trying to cut our hours and take away our seniority.'

Anger: Protesters are furious about new work contracts