For more than two weeks, Disneyland Paris Cast Members have been standing their ground, refusing to do their jobs, and have been protesting in the Parks. Cast Members who work at Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, and Disney Village have been demanding better pay. The striking Cast Members have had a significant impact on operations at the Disneyland Paris Resort. Multiple parades and experiences have been canceled, Cast Members have been seen in the Parks holding picket signs, and Disneyland Paris is informing Guests that their vacations may be impacted, and they may want to consider rebooking.
Disneyland Paris Cast Members have been demanding higher wages, claiming that they don’t make enough to make ends meet. Several protest signs have named Cast Members that can’t take a day off to strike, or they won’t have enough for bills. Another named a Cast Member who had to quit because they were not paid enough. The Cast Members are asking for a wage increase of about $215 per month, as well as a better length of service bonus, and a higher hourly rate for working on Sundays.
While the protests started out with about one hundred Cast Members, the number has ballooned to over 1,000. An official Cast Member strike is slated to begin on Tuesday, June 6.
Despite the massive number of striking Cast Members coming into the Parks, and the impact it has on the Guest experience, Disneyland Paris President, Natacha Rafalski, says that no negotiations will take place.
⚠️ Cast Members shared a message of Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski breaking the silence about the strike, stating that Disney won’t negotiate on pay until the review agreed for August, and that the Resort may have recently become profitable but needs to be careful.
⚠️ Cast Members shared a message of Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski breaking the silence about the strike, stating that Disney won’t negotiate on pay until the review agreed for August, and that the Resort may have recently become profitable but needs to be careful. pic.twitter.com/MaISQTEjcr
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) June 5, 2023
During the May earnings call, Disney CEO Christine McCarthy said that Disneyland Paris Resort had seen $51 million in profit after bringing in $2.6 billion in revenue — a record for the French Resort.
With the Cast Members set to strike on June 6 and Disney executives seemingly unwilling to negotiate, it remains to be seen what happens to daily Park operations. Protesting Cast Members have already taken over areas of the Parks and have even clashed with security. It is likely that even more parades, shows, and experiences will be impacted.
This is not the first time in recent history that Disney Cast Members have gone on strike. Cast Members at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida recently fought for higher wages and won. Disney executives and Cast Members were able to come to an agreement on a higher hourly wage, as well as retroactive back pay. Disney World Cast Members will soon begin receiving $18 per hour, with pay increasing each year.
