Disney World fully reopened all four theme parks within its Florida resort last week, even as coronavirus cases increased, making it one of the world’s hot spots for daily increases.
Guests who are not discouraged and choose to visit Disney are greeted with a disclaimer on their website: “By visiting Walt Disney World Resort, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19.”
For Disney workers, many may feel little choice but to take the risks of returning to the world’s most visited theme park, and some express fear of the risk of Covid-19 and its livelihoods.
There are about 75,000 employees at Disney World in Florida, and about 30,000 at Disneyland in California, and they are returning as cases increase in both states.
“The imminent danger of loss of health and financial security is a concern that most of us share about the reopening and the fear of closing again,” said Dan Rey, a 25-year-old server at Disney and a union delegate at Unite Here. . .
Rey has not yet been called to work, but he is one of thousands of Disney employees who spent several weeks before receiving unemployment benefits. Many workers in Florida have not yet processed or paid their applications. On July 26, federal unemployment benefits expire, leaving Florida workers to survive on only the state’s $ 275 maximum weekly benefit.
“People are afraid of going back to work because of the imminent threat of hiring Covid, since we, Florida, are now the world’s epicenter for this pandemic, and we are also afraid of not going back to work because we have no financial resources. support, “Rey said.” The real problem is that we can’t afford not to work. Our governor here in Florida is still making excuses instead of plans. There are still people who have not received financial support because the unemployment system is very broken. “
Mike Beaver, an amusement worker at Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom for about 20 years, returned to work on June 29.
“When it was announced that Disney World would reopen parks, I thought it was too soon, even though some other parks had reopened before Disney,” Beaver said. He said that during a temperature check he was sent to work, despite receiving a reading that would not be recorded on the thermometer.
Bryan Amstutz, a vacation planner at Walt Disney World, said that only a third of his department has returned to work so far, and that he did not expect to be called until January 2021 or later. “They don’t pay me enough to keep an eye on Covid-19,” Amstutz said.
Parts of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, have begun a gradual reopening, while awaiting approval from local and state officials to reopen the parks and hotels.
“My main concern when returning to work is: I have small children and my mother is old. I cannot bring coronavirus home. It is not really safe to return to work. Cases are on the rise in California, ”said Inez Guzman, who has worked at the Disneyland hotel cleaning service for five years.
Glynndana Shevlin, a food and beverage worker at Disneyland for 32 years, wants to return to work out of concern that she might lose her current apartment, which she has lived in for the past two years after experiencing homelessness. But you are also concerned about your safety and that of your co-workers and guests. One of her friends and co-workers is currently hospitalized with coronavirus.
“I live alone and I am 60 years old. I am really worried about going back to work in the sense of security. We want on-site testing for the coronavirus to be available if we need it, and all kinds of security procedures in place, “Shevlin said. “When I get home at night, I don’t want to worry if I’m going to be sick and if I’m sick, if I’m going to be able to have the right medicine, medical care, if I’m going to have enough pay.”
Union pushing for on-site testing
Local Unite Here 11 is currently in negotiations with Disney about safety protocols and worker protections when the parks reopen.
Austin Lynch, an organizer involved in negotiations with Disney, said the union had pressured Disney to agree to perform daily temperature checks on workers before shifts begin, and agreed to provide both personal protective equipment to workers and they need it.
But the union continues to pressure Disney to provide on-site coronavirus testing for workers, pledging to ensure that staffing levels will be provided to perform additional cleaning and disinfection, and to extend temperature controls to guests. staying at Disney hotels.
“They haven’t covered some of the critical security areas. Until they do, we don’t think it’s safe to reopen, “Lynch said. “You must cover all bases and do everything possible to avoid transmission or operate in an unsafe manner. Operating and just covering some of the bases only means that people will get the coronavirus. ”
A Disney representative told the Guardian that the opening of Disneyland was pending guidance from state officials, while worker training, a series of health and safety measures, cleaning, disinfection, and technology solutions have been implemented before. from the reopening of Disney World.
“As we continue to gradually reopen our parks and resorts around the world, promoting the health and safety of our guests, cast members and the community at large is a responsibility that we take seriously. From more cleaning and disinfection in our parks and resorts, to updated health and safety policies, we have reinvented the Disney experience so that we can all responsibly enjoy magic, “the representative said in an email.
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