Disneyland has begun recalling hundreds of employees from furlough as the park prepares to reopen from its shutdown in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Orange County Register reports.
What’s happening:
- Disneyland plans to reopen on July 17.
- Disneyland is expected to start reaching out to 775 cast members for the reopening. These cast members will begin returning to work on June 28.
- Workers United Local 50 — which represents 7,850 food and beverage workers at Disneyland — wrote in a Facebook post that the union was shocked so many employees were called back so soon.
- Union president Chris Duarte said: “The lack of warning to us and you is unfortunate. If you are a trainer, lead, production scheduler, receiver, chef or area chef, start preparing for the company to contact you as early as the weekend.”
Thousands sign petition
- Employees and fans alike have expressed concern about Disneyland reopening too soon during the coronavirus pandemic, which I’ve written about for the Deseret News. In fact, a “chorus” of Disneyland employees wrote a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom asking him to delay reopening.
- The Coalition of Resort Labor Unions wrote in the letter: “Unfortunately, despite intensive talks with the company, we are not yet convinced that it is safe to reopen the parks on Disney’s rapid timetable.”
- Fans signed the petition on Change.org that called on the theme park to not reopen until later this year, according to my report for the Deseret News.
- The petition reads: “Many people have lost loved ones due to this pandemic and by reopening the parks they are endangering cast members and guests to be exposed to COVID-19.”
- “The solution would be to reschedule Disneyland to reopen the parks at a later date when cases of COVID-19 drop and health officials state it is safer for everyone but to still practice social distancing.”