Disneyland Paris is bracing itself for another demonstration from its striking employees on June 6.
Cast Members, as they are known, are demanding a monthly wage increase of $215 (€200), improvements to the length of service bonus, and increased pay for working on Sundays.
The protests, which began early in May, have disrupted the daily parades and shows, inconveniencing visitors to the park. The striking staff’s grievances have been documented by the DLP Report social media account, which aims to inform visitors about the situation and encourage support for the Cast Members.
Disneyland Paris has acknowledged the planned strike and released a statement on Twitter, informing visitors of potential disruptions to shows and activities. The statement assures guests that the parks and hotels will remain open and apologized for any inconvenience caused.
The company has also implemented flexible booking conditions, allowing visitors to postpone their visit or obtain a refund if their tickets were for the strike date.
A report from Forbes contributor Caroline Reid outlines a peculiar problem for Disneyland Paris. Reid points out that, unlike dark days a decade ago, the problems plaguing the employees today may have less to do with their compensation package at the park, and more to do with excessive inflation, which has diminished the value of the employees’ earnings.
“The average annual salary at Disneyland Paris has risen by 12.8% annually since 2020 to hit a record $52,825 (€49,256) in 2022,” Reid wrote. “It was 28.4% higher than a decade earlier and it doesn’t stop there as employees of Disneyland Paris reportedly received a further 5.5% pay increase at the start of this year.”
The rising costs of goods necessitate higher wages to maintain a decent standard of living. The Cast Members are determined to continue their strike until their demands are met, stating that Disneyland Paris needs to react appropriately.
It’s important to note that Disneyland Paris, specifically Euro Disney Associés its operating company, saw $51 million in operating profit in 2022 — the highest in a decade. This decade-high was propelled largely by a sharp increase in revenue, a record $2.6 billion, which covers a jaw-dropping 78.8% of the total revenue from all of Disney’s international theme parks.
As the strike continues, Disneyland Paris is preparing for the premiere of its new show, ‘TOGETHER: A Pixar Musical Adventure,’ in July. The potential strike action presents an opportunity for the protesters to gain visibility and press attention.
In the past, media coverage of the strikes at Disneyland Paris has led to significant changes within the company, giving hope to the Cast Members that their grievances will be addressed.
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