Following in the footsteps of Disneyland Cast Member unions, the Walt Disney World-based Service Trades Council Union, which represents over 42,000 Cast Members, issued a letter today to the Director of Labor Relations for Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts in an effort to seek a formal statement from the company, as well as payment and insurance benefits for employees through April 30th.
Universal (Orlando and Hollywood) has already announced that they will be extending their closure through April 19, and that they will continue to pay their employees during that time. Typically, Disney is the leader in these sorts of situations, but it seems they are weighing their options and strategies very carefully, and not making any announcements until absolutely necessary to do so.
Currently, new stay-at-home orders issued for Orange and Osceola Counties in Florida, plus a statewide stay-at-home order issued by the Governor of California would mean an inevitable extension of the current April 1 reopening date established by the company. However, Disney has yet to make any announcements, or even schedule their Cast Members past March 31.
In their letter from today, the Service Trades Council Union stated that it looks forward to meeting with Disney soon to extend their agreement. In Anaheim, Cast Members from the Workers United Local 50 union request a response no later than 3:00 PM today with regards to the park’s closure.
At this point its obvious Disney is waiting for the stimulus package to pass Congress, because if they commit to paying everyone and then Congress pulls the plug at the last minute they are stuck footing the bill without any credits.
At $675/week most in-park cast would probably make more money if they were furloughed and collected unemployment in the new stimulus bill. These aren’t the smartest tools in the shed.
Unemployment is based on prior earnings… You aren’t going to be paid more than you were before.
Right, previous earning from quarters of work. About 60%
According to the stimulus package, people will receive whatever their state’s unemployment payment is plus $600. Many people will end up getting more money than they earn working.
Yes. Pay them. Then, if Fl does work share or unemployment go ahead and lay them off so they can collect unemployment for a couple of months and potentially go on Medicaid. But if you do this, give them priority in the rehiring process. You know this isn’t going to be the state of the world forever. I am pretty sure though, that there are ALOT of things that need to be done at the parks that cast members can do part time regardless of what they do under normal circumstances. Disney please do not forget that they are your greatest asset. Love to CMs!