Hong Kong Disney Stung by New Staff Complaints

HONG KONG (AFP) – Mickey Mouse and friends are not happy – at least the staff who wear the cartoon characters' costumes in Hong Kong's Disneyland aren't. The city's Disney theme park has been stung by yet more complaints when a staff union accused management of setting unfair pay scales and overwork-ing crew. The Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members Union said the resort, which is majority owned by the Hong Kong government, was also being stingy on contracts and holiday entitlements. The union said staff employed to dress as Mickey and other famous characters and perform in the park's stage shows were paid up to 22 percent more than those who donned the same costumes in other parts of the park. "Although character performers in the parade section and meet-and-greet ... have similar roles and quali-fications as those of the show cast, their salaries differ unreasonably," the union said in a statement Sun-day. It also said the company had begun hiring staff on short-term contracts to avoid paying health and other benefits. Disney management were unavailable for comment. Staff formed the union late last year after many crew members complained of being exploited.