Medieval Times workers launched an unfair labor practice strike Saturday, Feb. 11, claiming management has given substantial pay hikes to employees at other castles while their wages remain low amid unsafe work conditions.
The group of about 50 performers and stable hands walked off the job and began picketing after their first performance Saturday, forcing the Buena Park dinner theater to cobble together the two remaining shows by pulling in employees from other departments.
The workers voted in November to join the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) but say management has consistently blocked their efforts to secure a “living wage” and provide improved safety measures.
They filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the company late last year.
An additional 150 retail workers, bartenders, event staff and adminitrative employees at the Buena Park castle are not members of AGVA.
Susanne K. Doris, AGVA’s executive secretary-treasurer, said the strike was launched after management blocked the employees’ Facebook and Tic Toc pages and filed a trademark infringement lawsuit for their use of the company logo.
The workers had been using the social media platforms to get their message out. They’re seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed since they aren’t benefitting by selling products or services connected with the logo.
“Medieval Times have their own social media posts where they’re saying how talented their cast is,” said Erin Zapcic, who portrays a queen in the shows. “So we posted, ‘If we’re so talented, why aren’t you paying us a living wage?’ “
Attorney Daniel J. Sobol, who represents Medieval Times, said union members opted to strike after only two meetings with AGVA.
“While we respect their right to do so, the rest of our castle teams — union and nonunion — have come together to keep the shows going,” Sobol said in a statement. “We have a team of original Medieval Times…
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