Lobbying Group Representing Theme Parks Says Lengthy Closures Pushing Employees Into Poverty
A lobbying group that represents the interests of California theme parks including Disneyland and Universal said today that reopening guidelines issued by Governor Gavin Newsom will sentence laid off employees to poverty. This news comes just weeks away from Thanksgiving.
According to a piece in the Orange County Register, the California Attractions and Parks Association released a statement saying that the decision to place theme parks in the most restrictive reopening category will mean that the theme parks must stay closed indefinitely.
CAPA Executive Director Erin Guerrero said, “We continue to urge the Newsom Administration to reconsider the impact of their Tier 4 sentence for California’s major theme parks.” He continued, “The current guidance will keep theme parks closed indefinitely and leave thousands of theme park workers in poverty.”
The organization represents theme park giants Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood along with Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and California’s Great America.
As we previously reported here at MickeyBlog, guidelines issued as part of the Governor’s plan to reopen the economy means that the them parks may not be able to return for at least another 6-8 months especially given that COVID-19 cases are expected to rise over the winter. Just yesterday Disneyland announced further plans to furlough executive, salaried and hourly workers.
Ken Potrock said in a letter to employees, “Since Disneyland resort closed its gates in March, nothing has been more important than fully reopening and getting our cast members back to work.” Potrock continues, “That’s why it is with heavy hearts we find ourselves in the untenable situation of having to institute additional furloughs for our executive, salaried and hourly cast.”
Disney announced earlier this Fall that they would be laying off some 28,000 employees as a result of the lengthy Disneyland Resort closures. This is across both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions recently conducted a survey and found that 59% of their employees had either been terminated or furloughed.
Guerrero said in a statement, Park employees’ lives and livelihoods are completely intertwined with the parks where they work. Parks have gone to great lengths to keep their loyal workers employed throughout this pandemic, but the extended shut down makes this impossible.” He continued, “There are real people suffering economic instability, worried about putting food on the tables for their families.”
Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Disneyland news and updates.
Source: Orange County Register