Disneyland Paris in chaos as 1,000 striking workers flood park chanting slogans
Some 1000 workers joined a strike at Disneyland Paris on Tuesday
(Image: GETTY)
A trade unionist has slammed the announcement on salaries made by management at Disneyland Paris as a "joke", as staff at the 'happiest place on earth' have gone on strike. The happy images of tourists and mascots at the park were replaced on Tuesday by those of some 1,000 striking workers who flooded Disneyland's main street waving union flags and chanting slogans to protest the bonuses put forward by their employers.
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As a result of the industrial action, the French Confdration Gnrale du Travail (CGT) claimed several shows and attractions at the park experienced delays or disruptions.
Many visitors showed support to those on strike, with French news website FranceInfo reporting people giving protesters a roaring round of applause after hearing their complaints.
And workers are set to go on strike again on Saturday, a move that could bring more issues to visitors at the park, which counts a total of 17,000 employees.
Sylvain Cayard, a CGT trade unionist at Disneyland Paris, thinks the Disneyland Paris park management is "missing the point" with its latest announcement.
Workers protested the announcement made by Disneyland Paris management last week
(Image: GETTY)
Workers at Disneyland are set to strike again on Saturday
(Image: GETTY)
On May 26, the management said it would give a 104 (125) bonus to each staff member as well as the possibility to monetise lieu days and overtime. The officials at the park also said a pay rise of 9 per cent had already been enforced.
In response to the announcement, Mr Cayard claimed "no one has seen this 9 per cent rise".
He added to
FranceInfo
: "This is money that was already supposed to be given to us, but which is being given to us a little earlier. It is money we would have received anyway."
The one-off bonus has "nothing to do with what we are experiencing in terms of inflation", the union representative said.
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The announcement from management, Mr Cayard went on to claim, had the effect of "pi***g people off".
He added: "Since last week and Friday's announcements, there have been twice as many people mobilising."
A satisfactory pay offer for people who have seen pay rises "below inflation" for years, Mr Cayard said, would include a 172 (200) net pay rise for all.
It would also include double pay for Sundays worked and a doubling of mileage allowances to be paid every day, the trade unionist said.
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Disneyland Paris marked its 30th anniversary last year
(Image: GETTY)
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The striking employees work in various sectors of the park, including entertainment, maintenance and security.
While the Secretary General of CGT Disney, Fabien Beiersdorff, said at least 1,000 workers took part in the industrial action, the park's management reportedly counted 954 strikers.
Disneyland Paris, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022, welcomed 3.5 million visitors in 2021, data shared by Statista says. The number marked a clear increase when compared to that of visitors in 2020, the year coronavirus struck, but still pales in comparison to the 9.75 million people who stepped inside the park in 2019.
Express.co.uk has contacted Disneyland Paris for comment.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.
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Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 1:08 pm