CA Medieval Times Performers Election Update

Statement from Medieval Times Performers United California's organizing committee:

As of Tuesday, August 16, 2022, we do not yet have a union election date. This is due to the fact that Medieval Times has chosen to try to delay our election and break up our union by contesting our election petition. Medieval Times is maintaining that the only employees that should be in our union - and able to vote for our union - are Knights and Squires. Medieval Times’ claims that the Knights and Squires do not share a “community of interest” with Show Cast and Stables, and furthermore, Show Cast and Stables do not share a “community of interest” with one another.

Medieval Times did not contest the petition for election in New Jersey.

Because an agreement with the company was not reached beforehand, a public hearing was held via Zoom on Monday, August 15th at 9:00am PT to determine whether the petitioned-for bargaining unit is appropriate (i.e., it consists of Knights, Squires, Show Cast, and Stables as it does in NJ).

Now that the hearing has concluded we will hopefully have an election date within the coming weeks, as decided by the NLRB.

We will continue to share updates as soon as information becomes available. If you have any questions about the hearing, please contact MTUnitedCA@gmail.com.

California Medieval Times Performers Announce Union with AGVA, File for NLRB Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Medieval Times Performers United California Organizing Committee, MTUnitedCA@gmail.com

Buena Park, Calif., July 22, 2022 – In the wake of a robust vote to unionize at the

Lyndhurst, New Jersey Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Castle just a week ago, the

knights, show cast, and stable hands at the Buena Park, California venue have thrown down

the gauntlet to do the same! Today, with a supermajority of support, this group of 50 employees - Medieval Times Performers United California - filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to be represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA).

The California organizing committee of Medieval Times Performers United released the following statement on their union organizing effort:

“In order to create a fairer, safer, and more enjoyable workplace, we also need to have a place at the table, with the American Guild of Variety Artists, and collaboratively can achieve improved safety protocols and working conditions, as well as wages commensurate with our skills.

Although the Buena Park Castle shares many of the same issues as the Lyndhurst, New Jersey Castle, our rigorous performance schedule - as many as 16 performances in one week - weighs heavily on a show team that has been critically understaffed since reopening post-pandemic in June 2021. Through collective bargaining, we can close the gap and ensure that all performers are safe from injury, including our spectacular horses."

NJ Medieval Times Performers Win Their Union with AGVA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Medieval Times Performers United Organizing Committee, MTUnitedNJ@gmail.com

Lyndhurst, N.J., July 15, 2022 - Today, in a 26 to 11 vote the employees at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, NJ won their union election with the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA).

The union of Medieval Times actors, stunt performers, and stable hands, Medieval Times Performers United, released the following statement in response to their victory:

“We are excited to have won our union and grateful for the solidarity shown by our coworkers. The guidance and assistance of AGVA’s staff and members was instrumental in getting us through this process, and we are proud to join AGVA and the broader labor movement. Additionally, we couldn’t be more thankful for the outpouring of support we received from those outside of Medieval Times.

Next, we will use our collective voice to bargain a strong first contract. We look forward to working with management to create a fairer, safer, and more enjoyable Medieval Times. Together, we will build a workplace that allows us to thrive while doing the work we love.”