Actor’s Equity Association Reacts to Walt Disney World Layoffs
Tuesday was a dark day for many of the equity actors at Walt Disney World. As we shared yesterday, Walt Disney World cut a large number of stage performers and Entertainers from its workforce.
As the Orlando Sentinel wrote this morning, some described the large scale layoffs as a “bloodbath” especially one that deeply affected the Central Florida arts community.
Today the Actors’ Equity Association issued as statement reacting to the layoffs. Here are the cuts that we know of so far:
- Beauty and the Beast Live On-Stage. – Hollywood Studios
- Citizens of Hollywood – Hollywood Studios
- Festival of the Lion King – Animal Kingdom
- Finding Nemo The Musical – Animal Kingdom
- Green Army Men Drum Corps – Hollywood Studios
- Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue – Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Indiana Jones Stunt Show – Hollywood Studios
- Jedi Training Academy – Hollywood Studios
- Main Street Citizens – Magic Kingdom
- Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire – Magic Kingdom
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor – Magic Kingdom
- Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party– Magic Kingdom
- Turtle Talk With Crush – EPCOT
- Voices of Liberty – EPCOT
Actor’s Equity Association Responds
Their statement reads in part, “Our hearts go out to all the cast members at Walt Disney World,” said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “Disney has made it clear that our members would face work reductions since they announced layoffs of nearly 28,000 employees. That does not make this news any less painful. These reductions are another tragic reminder that until the virus is brought under control with a national strategy for masks, testing and contact tracing, everyone who works in the arts needs help like extended pandemic unemployment insurance and federal COBRA health insurance subsidies.”
It continues, “Before the pandemic, about 780 Equity members were employed at Walt Disney World, either full time, part time or seasonally. About 60 are currently working or about to return to work in the park. About 720 Equity member workers have now been laid off. According to the new MOU with Disney, these laid-off members maintain recall rights until the end of 2021.”
Their statement concludes with, “Equity has been fighting for a governmental response to an arts industry shutdown since March, when it first asked for an economic relief package for an industry in crisis. The union then fought for the passage of the CARES Act in March, helping expand the bill to apply to arts workers who lost future work. It is currently fighting for passage of the HEROES Act, as well as a full COBRA subsidy for workers who have lost their employment-based insurance.”
Here is a screenshot from the Actors’ Equity Association webstite:
Photo: ActorsEquity.orgPlease keep up to date with MickeyBlog as we will share more information on these layoffs when we have new details.
I thought the Voices of Liberty were scheduled to perform during the Festival of Holidays?