Disney World furloughing 43,000 workers following coronavirus shutdown

Some 43,000 unionized Disney World workers in Florida will be furloughed from April 19 because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Service Trades Council Union said in a Facebook Live briefing Saturday. About 200 employees will continue with work deemed essential.

The big picture: Disneyland and Disney World shut last month over the outbreak. The Orlando park employs some 75,000 people — making it the largest single-site employer in the U.S. Per a memo of the union deal, workers can keep benefits for up to a year and will immediately be eligible to apply for unemployment. "Disney will pay 100% of all insurance costs," the union said in a statement. "There will be no cost to any employee who's on furlough for use of their medical insurance and the continued coverage of it."