DeSantis Considers Ban on Disney Cast Members’ Water Breaks

Days after signing a law that banned hundreds of Walt Disney World cast members from parts of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis was presented with a new bill that would worsen working conditions for hourly employees.

According to political investigative reporter Jason Garcia, the bill (HB 433) would stop cities statewide from requiring businesses to provide hourly employees with schedules in advance and giving outdoor employees water and breaks. It would also prevent local governments from requiring contractors to be paid an hourly rate higher than the Florida minimum wage. From @Jason_Garcia on X (formerly Twitter):

The Florida Legislature just sent Gov. Ron DeSantis a bill to stop cities in Florida from requiring that: 1) Businesses tell hourly workers their schedules in advance 2) Businesses provide outdoor workers with water & breaks 3) Government contractors pay workers a living wage

The Florida Legislature just sent Gov. Ron DeSantis a bill to stop cities in Florida from requiring that:

1) Businesses tell hourly workers their schedules in advance

2) Businesses provide outdoor workers with water & breaks

3) Government contractors pay workers a living wage

— Jason Garcia (@Jason_Garcia) April 2, 2024

The first two proposed policies would impact Walt Disney World Resort cast members, most of whom are paid by the hour. Most Disney cast members spend at least a portion of their time outdoors at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Disney Springs, mini-golf courses, and more.

Moreover, it seems that The Walt Disney Company put aside its legal battle against Gov. DeSantis to pursue its own agenda against Disney Park employees. Garcia found that lobbyists from the Florida Chamber of Commerce wrote much of HB 433 word-for-word. The “Big Business lobbying group” allegedly represents major corporations in Florida, including Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort.

Records show much of this bill (HB 433) came directly from lobbyists for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, a Big Business lobbying group that represents corporations like Publix Super Markets, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, Florida Crystals and U.S. Sugar Corp.

Records show much of this bill (HB 433) came directly from lobbyists for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, a Big Business lobbying group that represents corporations like Publix Super Markets, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, Florida Crystals and U.S. Sugar Corp. https://t.co/OwN2ZTOkBT

— Jason Garcia (@Jason_Garcia) April 2, 2024

Legislators presented DeSantis with the bill on Tuesday, but the Republican governor hasn’t signed it. It’s unclear if the battle over the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly Reedy Creek Improvement District) following former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s condemnation of the Parental Rights in Education Act (“Don’t Say Gay”) will impact his decision to sign a Disney-backed bill.

DeSantis allegedly warned Chapek not to speak out on “Don’t Say Gay” in 2022, but the Disney executive eventually sided with protesting fans and cast members. He condemned the law and vowed to pause political donations to legislators who supported it.

Weeks later, the Republican governor signed legislation to dissolve Walt Disney World Resort’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. Since 1967, the Reedy Creek Improvement Act allowed Disney to control and maintain the municipality around the Central Florida Disney parks. DeSantis hand-selected board members who took over in 2023.

The Walt Disney Company sued DeSantis and Florida for violating its First Amendment-protected right to free speech. DeSantis countersued, and both parties filed new cases in separate courts. However, a federal judge dismissed Disney’s initial case against DeSantis in January. Disney CEO Bob Iger vowed to fight back, though it’s unclear if that will change when DeSantis signs the bill that the Mouse indirectly lobbied for.

Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t commented publicly on its involvement with HB 433.

Should Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sign these new laws impacting Walt Disney World Resort cast members? 

This post DeSantis Considers Ban on Disney Cast Members’ Water Breaks appeared first on Inside the Magic.