A coalition of labor organizations representing thousands of Disneyland employees has filed unfair labor practice charges against Disney for allegedly “threatening to discipline” workers for wearing union pins depicting Mickey Mouse’s raised fist.

Master Services Council — which represents 13,000 custodians, ride operators, candy makers, merchandise clerks and other workers at the Anaheim amusement park — accused Disney on Tuesday of unlawfully disciplining, intimidating and surveilling employees for “exercising their right to wear union buttons at work” amid their contract negotiations with the Burbank-based entertainment giant.

In a statement provided Thursday to The Times, Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good said that “cast members may only wear buttons and pins that are a part of their costumes while at work so that the show is maintained for our guests.”

The bargaining unit maintains that wearing the buttons at work is a legitimate form of union activity and that Disney cannot legally take action against employees for violating a dress code, regardless of what uniform they are required to wear or how regularly they interact with guests.

A Disney spokesperson said that supervisors have been asking workers to remove accessories that are not part of their approved costume and that only repeat incidents lead to disciplinary action, starting with a verbal warning. They added that “less than a handful” of disciplinary actions have been taken.

The Master Services Council alleged that more than 550 employees were surveilled, intimidated and disciplined for wearing the pins. The employees affixed the buttons in a show of solidarity as part of their ongoing contract campaign.

Talks between the unions and the company commenced on April 24. The Master Services Council contract expires on Sunday. Wages remain a top priority among workers, who say the “reality for park employees is one of economic hardship.”

“Cast members have been at the bargaining table for months trying to win a fair contract because we deserve more, but the company has been busy … disciplining cast members for exercising their rights,” said Michi Cordell, a Fairy Godmother’s Apprentice at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Disneyland.

“These unfair labor practices are hindering our ability to get the fair contract we deserve and Disney must be held accountable and prevented from further threatening us, the cast members who make the magic for guests on a daily basis.”

The charges were filed less than a month after Disneyland character performers voted to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Assn. in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.

The workers — who portray the beloved heroes, villains, fairies, cartoon characters, princes and princesses that wave from parade floats, sign autographs, pose for photos and entertain Disneyland Resort guests — are seeking higher pay, improved health and safety standards, flexible schedules and greater involvement in workplace discussions.

A special Florida district that governs Walt Disney World Resort has voted unanimously to approve the company’s plans for expansion, officially ending the years-long feud between the House of Mouse and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted Wednesday in favor of Walt Disney Co.’s proposal to expand its theme park complex in Orlando, including an $8-billion investment during the first 10 years and up to $17 billion over the next 10 to 20 years.

The expansion is part of a major investment spree by the Burbank media and entertainment giant into its so-called “experiences” division, which is largely comprised of its theme park empire around the world. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is expected to expand as well, with an investment of at least $1.9 billion.

At Wednesday’s meeting, local tourism executives and board members alike praised the benefits of the proposal and its potential economic effect on the state.

“Walt Disney World is inextricably intertwined in the fabric of the state of Florida, and the success of Walt Disney World is the success of Central Florida,” board member Brian Aungst Jr. said during the meeting. “I was always extremely optimistic and knew that we would get here because it’s the right outcome.”

The path to Wednesday’s approval was long and winding. The controversy began in 2022, when Disney — Florida’s largest private employer — voiced opposition to DeSantis’ so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in local schools.

DeSantis then took control of what was known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a quasi-municipal government that controlled the land Walt Disney World sat on but was run for years by officials essentially selected by Disney. DeSantis renamed the governing body the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and appointed his allies as members.

Dueling lawsuits ensued, including a First Amendment case Disney filed against the state and the governor, which was eventually tossed. Tensions started to ease in March, after Disney and the state of Florida reached a settlement of a separate state lawsuit, a move that came a few months after DeSantis ended his presidential bid. DeSantis had made Disney a high-profile culture war punching bag even before his doomed campaign began.

After Wednesday’s vote, Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle cheered the outcome, saying in a statement that the new development agreement “paves the way for us to invest billions of dollars in Walt Disney World Resort, supporting the growth of this global destination, fueling the Florida economy, and allowing us to deliver even more memorable and extraordinary experiences for our guests.”

Eggs of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that’s wreaked havoc on crops across more than a dozen states, were recently discovered on a metal art installation that was headed to Sonoma County, one of California’s most esteemed wine regions.

The discovery of the infamous bug’s eggs represents the first time the insect has been seen in California. The California Assn. of Winegrape Gowers, a statewide nonprofit, warns the invasive plant-hopper native to Asia has the potential to affect the entire winegrape industry in California, potentially pushing up prices if an infestation results in a smaller grape crop.

“Spotted lanternflies have been found in 18 states and have proven to pose a serious threat to vineyards,” Natalie Collins, president of the growers group, said. “These invasive insects feed on the sap of grapevines, while also leaving behind a sticky honeydew residue on the clusters and leaves.”

Impacts of the stress on the plant could range from reduced yields — and fewer bottles of wine for consumers — and, if severe and persistent enough, complete vine death and higher wine prices. No adult spotted lanterflies have been reported in the state, Collins said.

California is responsible for an average of 81% of the total U.S. wine production each year, according to the Wine Institute.

The association warned that if there are additional egg masses in California from other shipments that haven’t been detected “they may produce adult [spotted lanternflies] in the coming weeks with peak populations expected in late summer or early fall.”

The California Department of Food and Agriculture last year developed an action plan to try to eradicate the pests if they were to enter the state. State officials have asked the public to look for egg masses outdoors. If a bug is found, they recommend grabbing it and placing it in a container where it can’t escape, snapping a photo and reporting it to the CDFA Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899

The metal art installation on which the eggs were found was shipped to California in late March from New York, where the insects have been a persistent problem. After 11 viable egg masses were spotted at the Truckee Border Protection Station, the 30-foot-tall artwork was sent back to Nevada, where officials discovered an additional 30 egg masses. The art was power washed with detergent and then sent on its way again to Truckee, according to the association.

By the time the installation reached Sonoma County on April 4, the owner agreed to allow officials to open up the hollow beams in the artwork to inspect it further. Inside, they found an additional three egg masses and searched until they were confident no other eggs were present.

Spotted lanternflies were first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014 and quickly spread to nearby states, where they became a nuisance. In New York they proved to be such a problem that officials encouraged residents to kill them on sight. The pest has become so notorious that it made an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in a 2022 skit where one viewer applauded them for capturing “the unbelievable hubris of the lanternfly.”

While they feed on more than 100 different plant species, they have a particular affinity for grapevines and a tree known as the “tree of heaven.” The adults, which have the ability to fly short distances, are typically 1 inch long. At rest, with its wings folded, the bug is a dull tan-gray color with black spots. During flight, its open wings feature a bright red, black and white pattern.

The species is often described as a “hitchhiker,” since its egg masses appear similar to cakes of mud and can easily be transported on tractor trailers and semi-trucks. During the first three immature stages of the bug’s life cycle they appear to be black with white spots and later turn red and black with white spots.