I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad that Mickey Mouse isgetting some clean drawers.

And that goes double for Pluto.

In case you missed the news out of Orlando yesterday, theworkers who “play” Disney characters have won the right to haveindividual undergarments, which they can take home and wash.

(Yes, this sounds goofy. No, I am not making this up.)

The contract, between Disney and the Teamsters union, tookalmost two months to negotiate. The situation, as reported by theAssociated Press, was this:

“Many of the workers have to wear Disney-issued jock straps,tights or bike shorts under their costumes because regularunderwear bunches up and is noticeable” (and probablyuncomfortable, too.)

“At the end of the work day, they turn in the undergarments andthe rest of their costume before going home.”

When they arrive for work the next day, a different set ofgarments has been left for their use by the Disney laundrydepartment. According to the Teamsters, the launderers were notusing hot water to wash the undies.

How should I put this? Let me be delicate about thedelicates.

. . . What remained was not magical.

. . . Nobody would want to paint with the colors of thiswind.

. . . The garments were less (much less) than snow white.

Some workers complained about getting lice and scabies.

”Things have been passed around,” said Gary Steverson, a stiltwalker at Animal Kingdom. ”I know I don’t want to share my tights,and I don’t want to share my underwear.”

That sounds like a reasonable request to me.

The characters also won some other concessions, like more timeto put on their costumes. I think that’s reasonable, too,especially for Cinderella, who’s always looking for at least one ofher shoes.

And there’s a weather clause with an air pollution factor thatdetermines how long costumed characters have to be outside. Workerssaid smoke from a recent nearby brush fire irritated singers’ vocalcords (I’m certain Donald Duck has grounds for a lawsuit) and madeit difficult for stilt walkers to breathe.

Of course, the new contract is not final yet. The costumedcharacters and Disney workers from five other unions will vote nextweek. If approved, the contract will cover about 25,000 Disneyworkers — and seven dwarfs.

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to work they go.

Write to Nanette Laster at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602;or send email to news@dailyleader.com.