Disney has reached a deal with one of the major unions at the Walt Disney World Resort ahead of their return to work. The news comes from a statement from the Service Trades Council Union (STCU), which represents approximately 43,000 workers at Walt Disney World Resort. It includes safety guidelines for social distancing, cleaning, and mandatory masks for both Cast Members and guests.
According to the statement, when Walt Disney World Resort reopens there will be the following safety protocols in place:
- Cast Members and guests will be required to wear face masks
- Cast Members will each be provided with three washable masks
- Social distancing
- For cash registers, there will now be plastic barriers along with touchless transactions
- Guests will receive temperature checks
- Sanitation and hand-washing stations will be required
- There will be training for multiple levels of safety for Cast Members
- Cast Members will be trained on how to do self-assessments for symptoms of COVID-19
- Cast Members who test positive for COVID-19 will be given paid time off while they quarantine and will not receive any attendance discipline for calling out for COVID-19
The news of the agreement comes ahead of the phased reopening of Disney Springs on May 20th. The following week, on May 27th, Disney owned establishments at Disney Springs will be reopening. At this time, it is unknown when Walt Disney World Resort will be reopening. Shanghai Disneyland reopened on May 11th and continues to be the only Disney theme park operating globally. As of today, Florida Ron DeSantis has announced that Florida theme parks may submit their reopening plans to the state for consideration and review. This is one step closer to theme parks reopening in Florida but currently, a timeline for that is unknown.
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