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Credit: DisneyThis just in — Approximately 40,000 more unionized Walt Disney World employees will be furloughed beginning on April 19, 2020.
This will be the largest wave of employees at Disney to, unfortunately, be sent home without pay due to the current park closure.
Saturday morning, The Service Trades Council Union took to Facebook Live to announce the news. According to Orlando Sentinel, “The union coalition said that Disney had agreed to provide free health care benefits for a year and extend other benefits, including its Aspire education program.” The union also stated that “about 200 union workers deemed essential will stay on the job”.
There are a wide variety of Service Trades Council Union members who work at the Disney Parks — theme park characters, ride attendants, hotel housekeepers and custodians, vacation planners, lifeguards, entertainment technicians, bus drivers, and more. Altogether, these Service Trades Council Union members make up more than half of the 77,000 employees at Walt Disney World Resort.
Also according to Orlando Sentinel, “this past week alone, people filed 225,755 initial unemployment claims to the state that’s already falling behind with a backlog of more than 560,000 claims”.
Here is everything we know thus far on furloughs:
News Breakdown
- Disney has come to a furlough agreement with the Independent Employee Service Association, which represents Cast Members at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California.
- According to the agreement, Disney will maintain the health insurance benefits coverage, educational support, and additional employee assistance programs during a temporary furlough for hourly security Cast Members.
- The furlough will be in effect beginning April 19.
- Disney previously announced that non-union employees would be furloughed.
- Disney World Musicians Cast Members come to an agreement.
- The Independent Employee Service Association and The Walt Disney Company reached an agreement.
- Furloughs will be coming to The Walt Disney Studios employees.
- Disneyland Resort Reaches Furlough Agreement With Food & Beverage Union
Inside the Magic will continue to update our website as more information becomes available. You can keep up with the latest information regarding the furlough news by reading our article here.
Here at Inside the Magic we know The Walt Disney Company is doing everything they can to keep their guests’, Cast Members’ and crew members safety in mind and as their number 1 priority during this unfortunate time. We want to remind everyone to please stay home and stay safe. Take all of the safety precautions and follow the CDC guidelines, including social distancing, remaining six feet apart from others, covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing, wiping down doorknobs and door handles, and washing your hands.