Disney Adjusts Employment for Venezuelan Workers
ORLANDO, Fla. — Almost four Venezuelan employees with temporary protected status have had their protections revoked by Disney following a US Supreme Court decision favoring the Trump administration.
This action was taken to ensure compliance with legal standards, as noted in a statement from Disney on Friday.
Forty-five employees who opted for leave will still receive their benefits.
Disney expressed, “We are committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all employees who may be navigating changing immigration policies and how they affect them and their families.”
It’s worth mentioning that about two-thirds of these workers held union positions. According to Julie Jerikovich, the secretary treasurer of the local union representing Walt Disney World Service Workers, there is an agreement allowing for the reinstatement of job approval within a year of losing their jobs, with no loss of seniority or benefits.
“It’s really tough,” Jerikovich remarked on Friday. “Disney is being portrayed as the villain here, but they had no alternatives.”
She added that had the employees not taken leave, the company would face backlash, along with the risk of US immigration enforcement conducting raids at Disney World.
A Supreme Court ruling issued on Monday has temporarily halted a federal judge’s decision from San Francisco, but the justification for the order remains unclear, a standard practice in emergency appeals.
This recent development could put about 350,000 Venezuelans at risk of deportation. This group was previously permitted to live and work in the US, having been deemed unsafe to return due to natural disasters and civil unrest.
This situation is part of a continuing series of emergency appeals from President Trump’s administration concerning immigration matters related to Venezuela. Earlier this month, the administration sought to end humanitarian parole for numerous migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
“These workers—our colleagues, friends, and neighbors—have significantly contributed to the success of the Walt Disney Company and the lively culture of Central Florida,” stated the union coalition at Disney World. “After establishing a life here, no one should have to live in fear of losing everything.”
