Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District) continues to be hit by massive changes.
Reedy Creek
Over the past few months, a new Board of Supervisors appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have taken over and lawsuits regarding the District have been filed by Disney and against Disney. Now, we’ve got another update, and this time it’s about the District’s firefighters.
Reedy Creek has its own fire department — the department has been seen responding to incidents inside the Disney World theme parks before. When the plans were announced for the dissolution of the Reedy Creek District back in January 2023, it was revealed that the Reedy Creek firefighters backed this plan. Tim Stromsnes, the communications director of the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Local 2217, said, “Anything has got to be better than what we currently have.”
Reedy Creek Fire Department
The firefighters were among the few who publicly welcomed the new Board, but now there has been a change regarding a contract for the firefighters.
According to AP News, Alexei Woltornist, a Board spokesperson, said negotiations with the union were continuing, but offered no explanation as to why they reopened. The contract that was approved by first responders and firefighters last month promised better staffing and pay raises.
Reedy Creek Emergency Vehicles©Wesh
Woltornist said, “Administrator [Glenton] Gilzean is actively working with the fire department to finalize a deal that offers a competitive compensation package and gives firefighters the resources they need to protect the public” in a recent email.
Reedy Creek Sign in Disney World
During a Central Florida Tourism Oversight District meeting last month, a vote on this contract was expected. However, it was never brought up in that meeting and it did not appear on the agenda that was released for the next scheduled meeting.
200 firefighters and first responders have approved this three-year contract proposal — it would increase annual starting pay for firefighters from $55,000 to $65,000 and up to three dozen firefighters and paramedics would be hired.
Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek
Jon Shirey, who leads the firefighters’ union, has praised the new Board for visiting firefighters at their stations around Disney World property. Shirey said, “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.”
Now, according to Florida Politics, Shirey recently slammed his union members for sharing the proposed contract — he said this is pressuring the new District administrator not to sign since other public officials are complaining about the deal. “We just shot ourselves in the foot to the tune of millions of dollars that this agreement would have put into the pockets of our members,” Shirey wrote to the firefighters.
Jon Shirey, President of the Reedy Creek Firefighters Association | ©Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel
We’ll continue to keep you updated on the situation.
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Be careful what you ask for RCFD. You were better off with RCID. The new board can’t be trusted.
You trusted a politician. Especially one who mimics himself after a former president. Of course they’re reneging. That’s what crooked politicians do. Should have trusted the mouse instead of the louse.
Someone should tell Mr. Shirey that Karma has a way of coming back.
Sorry to say it, but anyone paying half attrntion could see that the new board was going to do this. Desantis hates ALL unions, even first responders.
I agree with James coolingo, did they really think an Anti-Union GOP-appointed board was going to negotiate a fair contract? I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up losing money and benefits. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and it appears the Union chose the wrong side.
And now this new board is taking away the free passes that the firefighters got. Funny how the comment in the article from one the firefighters was that it couldn’t get worse…well now it’s worse. Just wait, the new board will be cutting staffing at the firehouses within a year. How many firefighters still support desantis and his cronies?
It’s unbelievable how they can always be tricked into voting against their own self interest. They vote for a politician who looks down on them.
They vote for politicians who attack others, thus making the voter feel better. Then the voter realized they were part of the “others”. SMH