Disneyland has brought back three-fifths of its workforce since the coronavirus closure while cast member unions continue to push the Anaheim theme park to rehire thousands more that were furloughed or laid off during the pandemic.
The Disneyland resort has 19,000 cast members currently working and continues to rehire furloughed and laid off cast members, according to the latest MouseMail newsletter.
“The Disneyland resort is proud to have returned more than 19,000 cast members and is rapidly hiring hundreds more each week,” according to the Disney newsletter.
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That’s 4,000 more Disneyland employees than the 15,000 that worked at the resort in June — but still 13,000 fewer cast members than the 32,000 employed by Disneyland prior to the pandemic. The 19,000 current Disneyland employees represent nearly 60% of the pre-pandemic workforce — with more returning to work each week as additional attractions, restaurants and shops reopen as part of a phased reopening of the parks.
About 2,500 Disneyland cast members who had been furloughed or laid off last year returned to work in July, according to Disney officials. Disneyland has offered to rehire 85% of the cast members who were laid off or furloughed, Disney officials said.
“We are prioritizing laid off cast members with direct access to our recruiters for other employment opportunities,” according to Disneyland officials. “Furloughed cast members are continuing to receive company health care benefits.”
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Disneyland and Disney California Adventure reopened on April 30 after a 412-day COVID-19 closure that resulted in job losses and furloughs for thousands of cast members, Disney parlance for employees.
Before the layoffs and furloughs, Disney employed more than 100,000 at its U.S. theme parks — 32,000 at Disneyland and 77,000 at Disney World. Disney laid off 28,000 employees and furloughed 37,000 in fall 2020. By the end of 2020, the Disneyland resort had laid off more than 11,500 employees and furloughed thousands more.
The Coalition of Resort Labor Unions now represents 17,000 Disneyland cast members — down from 28,000 Disneyland union members prior to the pandemic.
Disneyland union members held a rally on Thursday, Aug. 5 to call on Disney to restore more jobs and raise pay.
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Many Disneyland cast members that worked the overnight graveyard shift are still on furlough or laid off, MiceChat reports.
“Day custodial cast members are having to close the restrooms to deep clean them,” according to MiceChat. “The deep cleaning was previously done by third shift custodial, but day cast members are doing it right now.”
