Unions Vow to Fight Disneyland Hotel Code

Saying that Disneyland policies are stuck in never-never land, several employee unions at the Disneyland Hotel said Thursday that they plan to band together to fight a strict new appearance code that prohibits mustaches, beards, heavy makeup and long fingernails.

Lewis Nash Levy, an attorney for Operating Engineers Local 501, a 40-member union trying to negotiate a contract with the hotel, said Local 501, Service Employees International Union Local 399 and a union representing painters will form a task force to “cooperate on legal matters and file arbitration and grievance procedures” against the policy.

Workers at the hotel, previously owned by Wrather Corp., fell under the laws of the Magic Kingdom for the first time in the lodging’s history when it was sold in January to Walt Disney Co. and Industrial Equity (Pacific) Ltd. of Hong Kong.

Workers Vow to Ignore Code

Many hotel employees have argued that the dress code is unfair and have vowed to ignore it.

Levy said the unions will ask Disney officials to “sit down and bargain over implementation of the rules” and to establish a dress code that is “reasonable in light of present society.”

The rules “are arbitrary and Draconian and they go too far,” Levy said. “There is no evidence that the public using the hotel is offended by the manner in which employees dress. Many of the employees don’t have a lot of contact with the public.”

Disneyland spokesman Bob Roth said the company “will be prepared to deal with any arbitration proceedings that are planned.”

He defended the dress code as consistent with the Disney image of “clean-cut and courteous” employees.

Roth said: “Walt Disney wanted this to be a place that would be different. . . . One of the ways that is manifested is in the clean look of the employees. A good appearance is conducive to good behavior. We don’t think the standards are extraordinary.”

Area supervisors will begin addressing individuals found to be out of compliance with the dress code beginning Monday, he said. Workers will be given an oral warning, then a written warning, followed by possible suspension and firing.

The unions plan to meet later next week to map strategy on how best to oppose the policy.

Since 1957, more than 26,000 Disneyland employees have adhered to a meticulous standard designed to uphold a squeaky-clean image.

That standard, Disneyland officials said, dictates that any adornments that might accentuate the individual be downplayed: no flashy, clunky jewelry and no exposed tattoos.

Not allowed for women are slacks, long fingernails, showy nail polish or eye shadow. For men, hair should not grow below ears and collars and--the prohibition that has generated much outraged repudiation--no beards or mustaches.

“We have no problem with a reasonable dress code, but this one is ridiculous and outdated,” said Donald Mear, business representative for Local 501.

But Mear would not go so far as to say workers are ready to strike to retain beads and beards.

“There are various options available to use,” he said. “It’s premature to say this is a strike issue. I think we can resolve the problem in other ways.”