According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel, about 200 Central Florida Tourism Oversight District union employees still have not received a cash stipend after the District’s Board of Supervisors stripped theme park access. The news comes via John Shirey, the president of the firefighters union for the District.

The firefighters were staunch supporters of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his takeover of the then-named Reedy Creek Improvement District, even hosting the governor at one of their stations for a bill-signing photo op.

Months after DeSantis took over the District, his hand-picked Board of Supervisors declared an agreement with Disney that granted theme park access and other discounts to District employees unethical. As we reported, Disney was not giving District employees free access to the theme parks. Instead, the District paid for theme park access as an employee benefit much like other third-party operators at Walt Disney World do.

Now, Shirey says that the stipend must be voted on by union members to be added to the contract that was finalized before the Board declared it would be cutting the employee perk. Shirey said that the union has had one bargaining session, but it “went nowhere”.

While the CFTOD Board of Supervisors approved a $3,000 stipend for employees, union officials say that the actual value of the pass was $5,000. An operating participant pass like the one that Reedy Creek Improvement District employees used to receive included theme park access for the employee, their spouse, and three guests. The operating participant pass also included discounts above and beyond what an Annual Passholder might be entitled to.

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!