Disney employees organize a general strike across the United States. This is the reason

By Daniel

Walt Disney Co. employees at corporate headquarters across the United States plan to get up from their desks and take to the streets Tuesday to protest company CEO Bob Chapek's lukewarm response to the controversial law passed in Florida. that prohibits talking in class about sexual orientation or gender identity.

LGBTQ+ workers and their allies are expected to join a general strike at offices in California, Florida and elsewhere, a group of employees on a website addressing Chapek by name announced last week.

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In recent weeks, Chapek has come under intense internal criticism and public scrutiny for failing to take a stronger stance against HB 1557, a bill that would ban instruction on "sexual orientation or gender identity." ” in kindergarten through third grade in Florida.

Chapek was criticized for saying in a company-wide memo on March 7 that the corporation can have the "greatest impact" by "creating a more inclusive world through the inspirational content we produce."

The corporation's position on the bill seemed especially galling to some of Disney's tens of thousands of employees in Florida, home to the sprawling Walt Disney World theme park and resort complex in Orlando.

Chapek, who ascended the throne of the Magic Kingdom in 2020, apologized directly to employees in a letter published on March 11.

“Clearly this is not just an issue about a Florida bill, but another challenge to basic human rights.

You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I have let you down.

I'm sorry," Chapek said in the letter.

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He also announced that the company would suspend all donations to elected officials in Florida.

But the letter did not end the protests.

Employees of the LGBTQ+ collective began making plans for a series of protests during breaks, which will culminate in a general strike on Tuesday.

They announced their plans on a website (whereischapek.com) and on an Instagram account called disney_walkout.

bill

have completely backfired to the best of their ability. rise to the magnitude of the LGBTQ+ safety threat posed by this legislation,” employees lamented.

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“They have forced us to adopt an impossible and untenable position.

We must now take action to convince the TWDC to protect employees and their families in the face of such open and unapologetic fanaticism," they added.

Chapek tried to rectify the situation in a virtual conference on Monday, according to The Wall Street Journal, telling employees that he and other top executives were "determined to use this moment as a catalyst for more significant and lasting change."

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The Wall Street Journal, citing people who attended the event, reported that Chapek said he and other top leaders would tour the world to hear from employees.

Disney did not respond to an email asking for comment on the strike.

The furor underscores a new reality for corporate titans, especially in the media and entertainment industries: Employees are becoming less afraid to oppose policies they find offensive or wrong.

We have been forced to adopt an impossible and untenable position."

DISNEY EMPLOYEE STATEMENT

The reaction has also been a public relations crisis for Chapek, who is trying to guide the corporation through the

revolution , with Disney+ and other digital companies.

Bob Iger, Chapek's predecessor, spoke out against Florida's Parents' Rights in Education bill on February 24, weeks before Chapek apologized.

The employees behind the walkout did not immediately respond to a list of emailed questions about their plans, including whether they plan to pressure the company to take a stand against a similar

bill in Georgia .

, a key production center for Hollywood.

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The walkout organizers are independent of the various corporate employee resource groups (BERG, in company parlance) and Disney-sponsored Pride organizations.

Florida Republican lawmakers who championed the bill have argued that parents -- not teachers -- should be talking to children about issues of sexuality and gender.

Democrats argue that the bill demonizes LGBTQ people and prohibits students from speaking freely about sexual orientation and gender identity.

President Joe Biden called the bill "hateful."

The measure has passed both houses of the Legislature and now heads to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has voiced his support.

The walkout is expected to begin at 11 am ET, according to the schedule posted on the employee-created website.