During the COVID-19 pandemic, dozens of firefighters across Central Florida have tested positive or have been exposed to the virus.
Some Reedy Creek firefighters said they are concerned about how the governing body for Walt Disney World handles how its first responders get paid during that time off, which is different from other communities. The first responders who take care of emergencies at Walt Disney World feel they are being treated unfairly when it comes to COVID-19 exposure.
“It affects morale,” said Ryan O’Reilly, with the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Union. “We don’t understand why they want to treat us like that.”
A Reedy Creek firefighter recently tested positive. So out of an abundance of caution, the district asked nearly an entire crew at one of its stations to quarantine. But the union is upset that those firefighters have to use sick time while they're off. And if they run out, they have to use vacation time.