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Striking Cast Members Call Meeting With Management ‘Trainwreck,’ Escalation Could Get ‘Explosive’

This weekend has gone quiet after nearly a month of strikes that have disrupted all Park activities. Out of respect for a Make-A-Wish event, striking Cast Members have taken the weekend off but will continue to disrupt the Park again next week.

Disneyland Paris Cast Members no closer to deal
Credit: DLP Report

Beginning in May, striking Cast Members at Disneyland Paris Resort started to take to the Parks to show their displeasure. At first, they marched through Walt Disney Studio and Disneyland with placards and flags, causing the day’s parade cancelations. Last week, the situation worsened, as the striking Cast Members got into a physical altercation with security forces hired by the Walt Disney Company to keep the peace.

Then, striking Cast Members surrounded Sleeping Beauty Castle and forced the cancelation of the nighttime show at Disneyland Paris. The Guests could be heard booing the cancelation and the Cast Members who caused it.

Last week, Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski held a virtual meeting with the striking Cast Members. After the meeting, the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) released a statement calling the meeting a “trainwreck” and saying that Rafalski “made wonderful promises.” Still, that management has refused to follow through.

The UNSA said on its Facebook page:

The response from president Natacha Rafalski represents a serious problem which raises a crisis for social dialogue, it inevitably leads to a situation that could become explosive. Given the urgency of the moment, and the severity of its consequences, UNSA Disneyland Paris asks to meet with the president.

The striking workers are seeking a weekly pay raise of $215 U.S., improvements to the length of service bonus, and increased pay for working on Sundays. It should be noted that the Cast Members in France make more than their counterparts at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Last week, Rafalski told Disneyland Paris Cast Members that the Walt Disney Company would not negotiate with them until August, which the two sides agreed upon earlier in the year.

Disneyland Paris Cast Members no closer to deal
Credit: DLPReport

This strike has essentially ruined the visit for Guests visiting Disneyland Paris. After the nighttime show was canceled last week, Disney sent Guests to the Town Hall on Main Street, U.S.A., for a refund, but it was so overwhelmed that it was shut down as well.

With the charity event ending, it remains to be seen what the Cast Member union has in store.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.

Rick Lye

Rick is an avid Disney fan. He first went to Disney World in 1986 with his parents and has been hooked ever since. Rick is married to another Disney fan and is in the process of turning his two children into fans as well. When he is not creating new Disney adventures, he loves to watch the New York Yankees and hang out with his dog, Buster. In the fall, you will catch him cheering for his beloved NY Giants.

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