Universal Theme Park Unit Lays Off Workers

Universal Studios Recreation Group, the theme park division of Vivendi Universal, laid off 80 employees at Universal Studios Hollywood this week, according to former park employees.

A spokesman for the parks confirmed that the company had cut staff but declined to be identified or to acknowledge the exact size of the staff reduction.

The cuts are in response to as much as a 40% drop in attendance at the park after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The spokesman would not verify park attendance figures but confirmed attendance has been falling.

The reduction in salaried staff cut across all departments and involved director-level managers down to assistant-level employees. The park’s hourly workers were not part of the downsizing, according to sources. There are about 3,000 employees at Universal Studios Hollywood.