Disney Hotel’s Hairy 6 Officially Told to Shave

Disney officials ordered six bearded and mustached employees to shave Monday as the company enacted a crackdown on Disneyland Hotel workers now subject to the grooming standards of the Magic Kingdom.

The six violators, all members of Operating Engineers Local 501, were told that unless they complied with the appearance rules by their next work shift they would be given a written warning, followed by suspension, then firing, according to Disneyland spokesman Bob Roth.

Mike Searles, an operating engineer who sports a handlebar mustache, angrily denounced the new appearance code and said he would give up his job before he would shave his whiskers.

“I’m not going to buckle under, because as far as I’m concerned they’re wrong,” said Searles, a 14-year employee of the hotel.

Searles, 40, said he plans to file a grievance against Disneyland if he is fired.

‘Freedom of Expression’

He was hired with the mustache and intends to keep it, Searles said: “I’m doing everything in my power to keep it. I’m exercising my constitutional right, which is freedom of expression.”

The new appearance code bars mustaches, beards, heavy makeup and long fingernails. No women workers drew grooming warnings. Roth said workers will be “discharged” if they fail to comply with the new rules after a suspension.

“I think, hopefully, it won’t be a problem at all within a few days,” he said. “There is still time, and we’re trying to be real positive about it.”

More than 1,300 workers at the hotel, previously owned by the Wrather Corp., were told they would have to comply with the laws of the Magic Kingdom when the hotel was sold in January to Walt Disney Co. and Industrial Equity (Pacific) Ltd. of Hong Kong.

Representatives of several unions are scheduled to meet Wednesday in Anaheim to determine a legal strategy to fight the new appearance standards, according to Tom Ramsay, communications director for Service Employees International Union Local 399.

‘Adamant About Implementing’

“We think this policy is foolish,” Ramsay said. “We had several conversations with (Disneyland officials), and they are just adamant about implementing this policy.”

Don Mear, business representative of the Operating Engineers Local 501, said he has been advising workers to comply with the measures, then file a grievance against Disneyland.

“It looks like we will be having grievances filed by various members,” Mear said.

“Today is just the beginning, there is no marching in the streets yet.”

Operating Engineer Stuart McMormack, who was also cited Monday, said he would shave the mustache he has had for 15 years and the beard he has had for eight, but only after making it clear to Disneyland officials that he opposes the policy.

“I will be very upset the day that I shave it off,” said McMormack, who has worked at the hotel for 8 1/2 years. “It’s too bad, but I’ve got a family to think of. A lot of guys are really worried about their jobs, so they shaved ahead of time. But my mustache and beard won’t pay my house payment. . . . I’ve got to shave.”