According to DisneyCareers.com, Disney has begun open hiring of many part-time frontline positions within their theme parks. This is a significant sign that not only is Disney increasing their hiring efforts for a busy summer, but that enough Cast Members are either quitting or turning down their re-hire status that was negotiated by the unions.
First, let’s discuss the ramp up of hiring efforts. As Disney continues to open up hotels, attractions, restaurants, and more, they will need more Cast Members to staff previously closed or suspended operations. This is a good sign for those looking for the park operations to “return to normal” as Disney is planning on ramping up their operations this summer.
Next, let’s talk about existing and furloughed Cast Members. This is a story that BlogMickey.com has been working on for months, but also a story that Unite Here Local 362 President Eric Clinton has refused to comment on. According to a memo sent out by the Service Trades Council Union (STCU), none of the Cast Members that they represent have been laid off. Here were the details as of October 2020:
21,627 Full-Time Cast Members and 3,877 Part-Time have been recalled to their jobs during Disney’s phased reopening.
7,731 Full-Time and 9,106 Part-Time Cast members are currently on furlough status.
On September 29, 2020, Disney notified the STCU that they had made a decision to change the employment status from furlough to layoff for 5,299 Full-Time and 8,857 Part-Time Cast Members.
After several days of negotiations, the STCU announced that no Full-Time Cast Members were forced to layoff status.
The fact that none of the Cast Members were laid off, combined with the details of the union agreement means that more than 14,000 Cast Members would be offered their jobs back before Disney would begin to offer jobs to “outside hires”. Of course, those Cast Members could turn down their old jobs, or they could quit after returning to impossibly difficult working conditions. Without a quote from union President Eric Clinton, BlogMickey.com is left in the dark on the status of recalls and exact numbers of union Cast Members currently still affected by COVID-19 modified operations.
That said, the recent job posting for positions covered by the union would suggest that Disney worked through all of the “furloughed” union Cast Members that the agreement required.
Now, Disney is looking to hire for many frontline positions within the theme parks as they ramp up for a busy summer and likely more relaxations of COVID-19 protocols.
Recently, Disney announced that they would relax the “Disney Look” and that they would offer all Florida-based Cast Members a free night stay in one of their Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Whether or not those perks are related to what appears to be an understaffed Walt Disney World or not remains to be seen.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!