More than 11,400 workers at Walt Disney properties across Central Florida will be laid off on New Years’ Eve, as tourism remains sluggish from the coronavirus pandemic.
“Due to the continuing business impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, we have made the very difficult decision to reduce our workforce,” Jim Bowden, Disney vice president of employee relations, wrote Thursday in advisories to the state Department of Economic Opportunity and local governments. “We previously notified you about impacted non-union employees.”
In late September, Bowden told the state that about 6,700 layoffs of non-union workers were planned to start on Dec. 4. At least 11,350 employees in the latest cuts are union workers. The layoffs are part of the Walt Disney Company’s plans to lay off 28,000 employees in the U.S., due to prolonged closures at parks in California and limited attendance in Florida. Disney employs about 77,000 people in Florida.
Nearly 11,000 of the Dec. 31 layoffs to union workers will occur at Walt Disney World, with another 447 union employee separations at facilities in Kissimmee, Orlando, Celebration, and Tampa. Separately, Bowden also wrote Thursday that 52 layoffs will affect union and non-union workers at the Magic Kingdom in December. As part of his second phase of reopening, DeSantis allowed theme parks to reopen in June.
Disney held off its reopening until July, weeks after Universal Florida and Sea World reopened, all with limits on the number of guests, face-mask requirements, widely available sanitation stations and use of cashless payments. DeSantis has repeatedly said the theme parks haven’t been linked to a spread of the respiratory illness. Still, by the start of September, Disney and Universal scaled back operating hours due to low attendance. In mid-September, Universal Orlando extended furloughs of 5,398 workers at least six more months and SeaWorld of Florida announced it would lay off 1,896 of its previously furloughed workers.
–News Service of Florida
Biden my time says
But…I thought we had the greatest, wonderfullest, beautifulest GDP this side of the Ringling Brothers Circus? Vote, to ensure a happier new year folks. Vote.
Alladin's Genie says
Mickey & Minnie are in Las Vegas. Donald & Daisy Duck are vacationing in warm waters of the Bahama’s . Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (vertically challenged),,,one has to be politically correct these days, are in Canjun ,Mexico enjoying the ancient temples and Beaches. Cinderella & Prince Charming are para-sailing off the coast of Puerto Rica . Peter Pan & Tinker Bell are visiting old Pirate Bays in Jamaica looking for Capt. Hooks new Bar and Disco . Many of the Disney characters are taking a well deserved vacation while the unemployed workers back in Orlando file for compensation .
D.W. says
It always amazes me how big corporations decimate their foundation employees to help save their company instead of the fat six figure+ compensated administration at the top.
A. J. says
More union workers than n.u. workers. Unions tend to be Democratic. Just saying.
Steve says
OH Boy though the Stock Market that 60+ % of the people dont own is doing phenomenal. Until it isnt. With sectors of Consumers crushed and Confidence waning A bit of price discovery readjustment is sure to come as sure as 2021. IFF new ATH are hit or close I am out. Dont care who is in Office. PS You wont see me at Disney