Business and economic information you need to know
Mar 27, 2009 11:10 am US/Eastern
Disney Lays Off Hundreds Of "Cast Members"
ORLANDO (CBS4) ―
Hundreds of employees of the "happiest place on earth" are not feeling too happy after being laid off. The Walt Disney Company, Central Florida's largest employer with about 62-thosuand "cast members". is laying off hundreds of employees as the company reorganizes its domestic operations. Disney officials declined to say how many are being fired.
In February, Disney said it was combining backstage operations, like food and beverage, maintenance and merchandising, and placing them under one management structure.
Layoffs are across the board and include jobs at theme parks, resorts, the corporate office in Burbank and the cruise lines. The job cuts, however, have not affected unionized employees.
Layoffs began last month and Disney officials did not say when they would cease. Employees have complained of an increase this week as Disney is streamlining its vast operations and facilities department.
Word of the increasing number of Disney layoffs comes the same day Florida's unemployment rate numbers for February were released. The rate rose to 9.4 percent, the highest unemployment rate in the state since 1976. It's also 1.3 percent higher than the national unemployment average of 8.1 percent.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Don't Let The Bad Economy Get You Down!
Business/Economy
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
