Universal Orlando to end mask requirements for vaccinated guests – WESH 2 Orlando

Hide Transcript
Show Transcript

BISHOP IS FACING BATTERY CHARGES , ALONG WITH FLEEING AND ELUDING. BIG NEWS FROM UNIVERSAL ORLANDO. THE PARK WILL BE THE FIRST OF CENTRAL FLORIDA’S MAJOR THEME PARKS TO INCREASE ITS STARTING WAGE WESH 2’S HADAS BROWN SHOWS US BY HOW MUCH, AND WHY IT COULD MEAN HIGHER PRICES AT ALL OF OUR POPULAR TOURIST SPOTS. HADAS: THIS CHANGE BRINGS A PAY BUMP OF $2 AN HOUR FOR THE STARTING BASE PAY AT UNIVERSAL, WHICH IS AN INCREASE THE PARK SAYS IS ITS HIGHEST IN HISTORY. $15 AN HOUR. STARTING JUNE 27, THAT’S THE NEW STARTING BASE RATE FOR WORKERS AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT. THIS CHANGE COMES AFTER A YEAR OF FURLOUGHS AND LAYOFFS. THEME PARK MANAGEMENT EXPERT DR. ABE PIZAM SAYS IN MANY CASES, THOSE WORKERS WHO LEFT THEIR PARK JOBS DID NOT COME BACK. >> OTHER EMPLOYERS OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY ARE PAYING HIGHER RATES, AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION. HADAS: WALT DISNEY WORLD PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED TO RAISING WAGES TO $15 AN HOUR THIS COMING OCTOBER. SEAWORLD TELLS ME IT HAS RAISED STARTING SALARIES TO $13 AN HOUR A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND ARE OFFERING SOME BONUSES THIS SUMMER. PIZAM THINKS UNIVERSAL’S MOVE WILL HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT BEYOND JUST THE PARKS, THAT HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS WILL FOLLOW SUIT. >> EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU WILL SEE HIRING, HIRING, HIRING, AND THAT CANNOT LAST FOR VERY LONG THE SUMMER IS HERE, TOURISTS WILL START COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND IF THEY HAVE NO SERVICE, THERE’S NO BUSINESS. HADAS: THE RAISES, CERTAINLY A POSITIVE FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA’S MANY THOUSANDS OF THEME PARK WORKERS. BUT WHERE WILL THAT COST LAND? >> THE PRICES WILL HAVE TO RISE, THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY FOR THAT AND THE ONES WHO WILL PAY ARE THE TOURISTS. HADAS: UNIVERSAL SAYS 18,000 CURRENT EMPLOYEES WILL GET A RAISE BASED ON THIS CHANGE. REPORTING IN ORLANDO, HADAS BROWN, WESH 2