Disney World set to furlough 43,000 staff

Walt Disney World plans to stop paying wages to 43,000 workers in about a week while allowing them to keep their benefits for up to a year in what is the largest wave of furloughs since the theme park resort closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus.

Workers will be able to keep their medical, dental and life insurance benefits for the length of the furlough period, or up to a year. Seniority and wage rates will remain unchanged for the workers whose furloughs start on April 19, according to a statement from the Service Trades Council, the coalition of unions representing the Disney World workers.

“The union agreement provides stronger protections and benefits for 43,000 union workers at Disney than virtually any other furloughed or laid-off workers in the United States,” the union said in a statement.

About 200 workers will remain on the job performing “essential duties” during the closure.

The deal with the Service Trades Council marked the largest group of staff at Disney World to come to terms on furloughs with the company amid the outbreak. With 77,000 workers, Disney World is the largest single-site group of workers in the US.

Disney World’s theme parks, entertainment district and hotels closed in mid-March, and Disney has been paying its workers while they stay at home. That is scheduled to end on April 19, Disney officials have said.