When the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District took over Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, most Disney employees were skeptical of the news board. How could they not be? The Board was hand-picked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. It filled with his allies who had one mission: punish the Walt Disney Company and Disney World for speaking out against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
Employees at Walt Disney World were concerned about the changes that could be coming with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District now in charge. The new Board would not have a say over their salaries but could change the workplaces, and Disney employees could freely express their beliefs. But not all employees were concerned. In fact, one group cheered the arrival of DeSantis’s new Board.
The Union that led the Reedy Creek firefighters praised the new Board’s arrival and hoped it would usher in a “fresh start.” Jon Shirey, who represents the Union, said at a Board meeting:
Almost overnight, a change occurred that we have never experienced — transparency, open dialogue, the ability to sit down and have our issues heard and felt listened to. You have been able to build bridges that were long burned.
Members of the Board visited every firehouse in the 39 square mile District, and together, the Union and the Board agreed on a new contract that the firefighters liked.
Everything was going just fine until it wasn’t. Last month, District Administrator John Classe, who helped to negotiate the new contract, was replaced by Glenton Gilzean, a DeSantis ally. The Board was supposed to vote on the new contract at last month’s meeting, but a vote was never scheduled, and no vote was scheduled for its meeting this week.
With the change in Administrator, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has decided to reopen the contract negotiations with the firefighters union. The originally agreed-upon contract called for hiring more than three dozen new firefighters and paramedics and raising the starting salary by $10,000.
The firefighters union has been working without a contract for the last three years, and DeSantis’ appointed Board has further alienated them.
Board members have said they continue negotiating with the Reedy Creek professional firefighters. Still, it appears Florida Gov Ron DeSantis’ board members have already done damage to this relationship.
We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.
