GRUMPY character performers at Hong Kong Disneyland are seriously considering hijacking a parade to stage a costumed protest inside the park as a way to bring their fight for better pay and conditions to the attention of visitors.

The protest would see characters in Disney costumes using one of the daily parades to hold up banners attacking the management, who they say have failed to respond to their calls for better treatment.

The Disney Cast Members' Union said there were no concrete plans for the protest. However, it had heard that some members were considering taking action. The union says 90 of 120 costumed-character actors have signed a petition complaining of "unfairness and injustice" and calling for pay on a par with show performers.

The frontline characters, who pose for pictures dressed as Disney characters, receive starting salaries of HK$9,000 (US$1,200), HK$2,000 less than show performers, and say they work punishing shifts and six-day weeks.

Already, one of the petition signatories claimed, character performers were phoning in sick in large numbers to avoid an unpopular 11.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. shift. This sometimes leaves the daily parades scrambling to make up numbers.

"One of the main reasons guests come is because they love to meet characters like Mickey, Minnie and Goofy," he said. "If we are so important, why does management treat us like cheap labor?"

"We are making plans to hold up banners against the management during a parade. We are taking these actions because no one among the management is responding to our questions."

Elaine Hui Sio-ieng, organizing secretary of the Disney Cast Members Union, said: "We have heard about people calling in sick to avoid punishing shifts. It is Disney that forced them to call in sick.

"Of course, we'd like to solve these problems through negotiations with Disney."

Editor: Wing