ORLANDO, Fla. - About 43,000 unionized Disney World workers will be furloughed starting April 19. The announcement was made during a Facebook Live stream by the Service Trades Council Union.
This furlough is the largest wave of Disney employees at the resort to be sent home without pay because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "This is a decision that the union doesn't like, however, it is within the company's right to lay off and furlough employees in this situation," a union representative said.
The union coalition said that Disney had agreed to provide free health care benefits for a year and extend other benefits, including its Aspire education program.