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This afternoon, The Walt Disney Company shocked their employees, fans, and investors by laying-off nearly 30,000 theme park Cast Members at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the still-closed Disneyland Resort in California.
Now, Unite Here! Orlando Local 362, Disney World’s largest union, has spoken out about the layoffs on social media. The union shared the following Tweet to their official account.
Related:Â Custodian at Disney World Reminds Us Why Cast Members Are Amazing
STATEMENT OF THE SERVICE TRADES COUNCIL UNION REGARDING LAYOFFS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
The 6 unions of the STCU represent 43,000 Cast Members at Walt Disney World.
We were disappointed to learn that the Covid-19 crisis has led Disney to make the decision to layoff Cast Members.
— UNITE HERE! Local 362 (@UNITEHERE_CFL) September 29, 2020
The statement, which required three Tweets to write, reads in full:
STATEMENT OF THE SERVICE TRADES COUNCIL UNION REGARDING LAYOFFS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD The 6 unions of the STCU represent 43,000 Cast Members at Walt Disney World. We were disappointed to learn that the Covid-19 crisis has led Disney to make the decision to layoff Cast Members.
Unlike at the other theme parks and hotels in Central Florida, Disney workers have a voice at the table because of our Union. We have begun negotiations with the Company about this news and its impact to Union members.How many full-time and part-time Cast Members will be affected, how long health insurance and recall rights will continue and many other issues crucial to Cast Members are on the table. As soon as more information becomes available, we will notify our members. #1u #unitehere
Earlier today, Walt Disney Company Chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products Josh D’Amaro shared statement regarding the layoffs of both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort employees:
A statement from Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: https://t.co/EiBnCNBCqd pic.twitter.com/kXF2PH5D13
— Disney Parks News (@DisneyParksNews) September 29, 2020
In part, this statement to Disney Parks fans and Cast Members alike reads:
In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic – exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen – we have made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce at our Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels, having kept non-working Cast Members on furlough since April, while paying healthcare benefits. Approximately 28,000 domestic employees will be affected, of which about 67% are part-time. We are talking with impacted employees as well as to the unions on next steps for union-represented Cast Members.Â
What do you think about Disney World’s biggest union’s response to these shocking layoffs? What is your opinion about the state of Disney’s theme parks right now?