Cast Members – Page 17 – A Walk With The Mouse

Disney’s Housekeeping and Food & Beverage Cast Members Get Raises

Posted on October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Big news for several Disney Cast Members, as the Local 737, the Union of hotel & restaurant workers at Disney, took to Facebook to share the news of raises arriving for Cast Members.

As shared on the Orlando Hotel and Restaurant Workers Movement Facebook page:

“Update for Local 737 Disney Workers! RAISES ARE TODAY: October 4! $16 minimum for Housekeeping. $14 minimum for most Food & Beverage workers. The raises apply to the almost 9,000 Housekeeping and Food & Beverage workers who are back at work. If you are still on furlough, you will get the raise whenever you are called back to work. The raises for Tipped workers are on December 27, but you will get the October 4 raise whenever you take paid time off. We fought hard for these raises back in 2017 and 2018. At a time of economic crisis when many non-union companies are freezing and cutting their workers’ pay, our Union contract protects us! WHAT ABOUT LAYOFFS? All 6 Unions of the Service Trades Council continue to talk with Disney about their announcement. 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.”

For more details, visit Orlando Hotel and Restaurant Workers Movement Facebook page.

Minnie Van Service Retired at Walt Disney World

Posted on October 2, 2020October 2, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via wdwnt.com

In the wake of mass layoff announcements, it has been confirmed that all Minnie Van Cast Members were among those terminated at Walt Disney World. Despite early talks of the service’s demise ultimately brought on by the pandemic, Disney initially squashed rumors by including Minnie Vans in a resort transportation update that mentioned guests should “stay tuned” for return dates. There were no plans at that time to bring the service back, and the vehicles were already gone from the property.

It has been a tumultuous existence for the Minnie Van service at Walt Disney World, a point-to-point transportation option owned and operated by Disney that launched back in 2017. A pet-project of now-CEO Bob Chapek, Minnie Vans were Disney’s response to many of their guests choosing not to use the provided, complimentary (and honestly, often unreliable) transportation options Disney provides their guests and instead booking a Uber, Lyft, or similar transportation method to get around The Vacation Kingdom of the World. Minnie Vans were deemed overpriced by most guests, and they were also hard to get when you actually wanted them, like around park opening and closing times. After years of hemorrhaging money, Cast Members already believed the service was soon being brought to an end.

The Minnie Van fleet was leased through an agreement with Disney corporate partner Chevrolet, but it’s likely they were returned as these vehicles are no longer seen anywhere on property.

Walt Disney World Layoffs Include 6,700 Non-Union Employees

Posted on October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney Parks announced the layoffs of 28,000 domestic employees. We have learned now that roughly 6,700 Walt Disney World non-union employees are losing their jobs.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: About 6,700 Walt Disney World non-union employees are losing their jobs because of the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an alert the Walt Disney Co. sent to the state. The layoffs will begin Dec. 4.

In all, Disney plans to lay off a total of 28,000 U.S. employees in a business division that includes theme parks, Imagineering and Disney Cruise Line.

“Due to the continuing business impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the very difficult decision to reduce our workforce,” wrote Jim Bowden, Disney Vice President of employee relations, in a letter to the state that did not break down which positions would be affected.

“It will take time for all of us to process this information and its impact. We will be scheduling appointments with our affected salaried and non-union hourly employees over the next few days. Additionally, today we will begin the process of discussing next steps with unions,” D’Amaro wrote in a letter to employees Tuesday.

Disney Parks Announces Layoffs of 28,000 Cast Members

Posted on October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

A statement from Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, was just released. Approximately 28,000 domestic employees will be affected, of which about 67% are part-time. The statement reads as follows:

“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.”

“Over the past several months, we’ve been forced to make a number of necessary adjustments to our business, and as difficult as this decision is today, we believe that the steps we are taking will enable us to emerge a more effective and efficient operation when we return to normal. Our Cast Members have always been key to our success, playing a valued and important role in delivering a world-class experience, and we look forward to providing opportunities where we can for them to return.”