USA TODAY International Edition
Disney prepares bubble staff rules
Will Disney restore the Magic Kingdom? Or will it oversee a Mickey Mouse operation?
The NBA will resume its season on July 30 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, hoping the quarantined site can become a small world after all with nearby game and practice venues, luxury hotels and various restaurants. The NBA outlined 113 pages of health and safety protocols that detail daily coronavirus testing, contact tracing and numerous social distancing rules. Yet the NBA cannot exactly sing “Hakuna Matata” and predict no worries for the rest of their days.
On a conference call Friday with reporters, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged “the level of concern has increased” amid nationwide rises in both positive tests and deaths related to the novel coronavirus. Florida also has been among the most affected states recently. Silver conceded that “no options are risk- free right now.” Yet the NBA has maintained relative optimism with the setup for reasons beyond consulting various health officials.
“One of the reasons we selected Orlando was because of Disney,” Silver said, “and our longtime partnership with them and our confidence in them as operators.”
Some Disney workers signed petition to keep properties closed
Not everyone has shared that optimism.
Just short of 16,000 people signed a petition addressed to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to delay the opening of Walt Disney World scheduled for July 11. Though it cannot be independently confirmed who signed the petition, it is presented as if they are Disney employees.
“This virus is not gone, unfortunately it’s only become worse in this state,” the petition reads. “Having our theme parks remain closed until cases are steadily decreasing would keep our guests, our employees and their families safe. Reopening the theme parks is only putting our guests, employees, and families at higher risk for contracting COVID- 19. While theme parks are a great way to relax and enjoy free time, it is a non- essential business; it is not fair to the people who work there to risk their lives, especially if they are at risk or have family members who are at risk. People are more important than making a profit.”
Disney spokesperson Andrea Finger declined to comment, but she passed along a statement that Dr. Pamela Hymel, Disney Parks’ chief medical officer, posted June 18 on the company’s website that outlined the various protocols Disney will take.
“I support people’s rights to express that point of view. We have members that have the opposite point of view and everywhere in between,” said Jeremy Haicken, president of UNITE HERE Local 737, the union that represents workers in Walt Disney World Food & Beverage and Housekeeping.
Union members stressed they have negotiated health protocols with Disney to ensure employees are safe. The NBA’s quarantined site will not be open to the general public as Disney World will be.
How Disney will handle bubble site
Health officials offered mostly rave reviews about the NBA’s 113- page health and safety protocols. Yet some health officials and those in NBA circles wondered why Disney employees would not be subject to quarantine procedures as NBA players, coaches and staff members are required.
“I don’t think any reasonable person would say that was a real possibility. You’re talking about hundreds, maybe thousands, of workers in these hotels that would never see their family for three months,” said Eric Clinton, the president of UNITE HERE Local 362, which oversees the custodians and ride operators at Disney World. “These are a mix of single parents, mixed families, joint families, all with kids. They’re all very diverse. They are immigrants and people of color. There is absolutely no way someone should expect a housekeeper who makes $ 15 an hour not to see her children for however long this is going to go on.”
Haicken said union officials plan to have more conversations with Disney this week about how the unspecified number of employees will manage the NBA’s campus site. The NBA said Disney workers will only clean a hotel room when players, coaches and staff members are not present. Disney will also assign housekeeping staff to a specific set of floors at each hotel. To minimize foot traffic, housekeeping staff will service rooms once a week but can increase services upon request.
Why Disney is not testing employees for COVID- 19
The NBA will have daily testing for players, coaches and staff members. Why won’t Disney do the same for its employees?
“We wanted it to be done regularly, but that was a very large expense to them,” said Clinton, who expressed uncertainty about the exact cost. “They felt if they put in self- assessment at home and when you get to the workplace, that would be enough.”
Every day, Disney employees will take their temperature at home. If it’s over 100.4 degrees, they are required to call in sick. They will take another temperature check when they arrive on Disney property. Employees will also have to report any symptoms. And they will have to report if they have been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID- 19 in the prior 14 days.
So employees do not feel pressured to work with any illnesses, Disney will pay them for sick days and for any employees who have to self- quarantine. Why does Disney and its unions not feel overly concerned about the lack of testing?
“I think having testing would be great. But testing alone does not guarantee that the illness is not transmitted,” Haicken said.