Disney employs hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Some are those who work in the studios and make Disney’s television shows and movies. Others work for companies Disney owns, like Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. And then there are those tens of thousands of employees who work in Disney theme parks. Those theme park Cast Members give it their all to make sure each Guest has a magical time in the Parks, and they want to be compensated appropriately for that. Sometimes, however, Disney does not agree with them on how much pay they deserve.
For months, Cast Members at Disneyland Paris Resort have been asking Disney for higher starting pay. The higher pay would mean that many Cast Members would earn an extra $200 per month. Those Cast Members are also asking for Disney to adjust its bonus tiers and for those who work on Sundays to get paid more per hour. Disney denied each and every one of their demands and didn’t seem interested in negotiating. Disney’s refusal to budge caused Disneyland Resort Cast Members to go on strike.
Since May, hundreds of Cast Members have been entering Disneyland Park, holding signs and demanding higher pay. So many Cast Members are protesting that the Resort has had to cancel multiple parades and nighttime shows. Disneyland Paris Resort President Natacha Rafalski has said that Disney will not negotiate with the Cast Members until August, when their contracts are up. She has also said that the Resort needs to be financially smart, and that Cast Members can’t be making these demands now that the Resort is profitable.
Even though Cast Members have been striking for months, those strikes are now coming to a temporary pause. Twitter user DLP Report shared that Cast Members are pausing their strikes for July and August.
With the current unrest in France, the upcoming summer holidays and the negotiations with Disney in August, Disneyland Paris Unions have announced that they would not call for strikes in July or August. They have however suggested that the movement could resume in September.
With the current unrest in France, the upcoming summer holidays and the negotiations with Disney in August, Disneyland Paris Unions have announced that they would not call for strikes in July or August.
They have however suggested that the movement could resume in September. pic.twitter.com/BThedzb5vt— DLP Report (@DLPReport) July 3, 2023
France is currently experiencing a lot of unrest due to French police killing a 17-year-old boy, who was of Algerian descent. There have been protests in the streets, and residents have even set things on fire. These violent protests have gone on for more than a week and hundreds of people have been arrested. The country is warning travelers to be safe while visiting.
Disneyland Paris Resort has never been one of Disney’s most popular theme parks, but it has grown significantly in popularity in recent years. 2022 was the Resort’s most successful year and even saw a profit of $50 million. Disney has not indicated whether they intend on agreeing with Cast Member demands or if they will hold their ground.
