Disneyland Paris experienced its longest strike in June-July 1998. At the heart of the conflict were pay claims and especially recognition of "performing artist" status for the Mickey Mouses, Goofies and Snow Whites who parade daily in the park.
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Disneyland Paris experienced its longest strike in June-July 1998. At the heart of the conflict were pay claims and especially recognition of "performing artist" status for the Mickey Mouses, Goofies and Snow Whites who parade daily in the park.
For around 20 days, from 24 June to 10 July 1998, the CGT, the CFTC and UNSA (Union nationale des syndicats autonomes) trade unions organised strike action at Disneyland Paris, in Marne la Vallée, close to the capital.
According to these unions, around 100 parade entertainers out of 220, and 15 technicians (out of the 13,000 strong workforce) took part in this dispute. At the heart of the strikers' claims - an immediate pay rise for all employees, a status that really takes account of their skills, and a general seniority bonus - was the issue of the application to Disneyland Paris of the "performing arts appendix to the national collective agreement governing theme and amusement parks". This determines the specific provisions pertaining to the performing arts branch of the theme parks sector. The agreement was signed at sector level in May 1996 and extended by decree to cover all businesses in the sector in November 1996.
Eurodisney chose not to apply this agreement because, its management considered, "with its hotels and catering facilities, Disneyland Paris is much more than just a theme park." The consequence of this decision is that even with five years' service, a parade entertainer earns only FRF 7,400 gross per month, while a performing artist earns around FRF 9,500. Unions thus called for "the collective agreement to be applied" and condemned Disneyland's in-house qualification system, "derived from the American tradition".
Negotiations which began in early July proved fruitless, and the unions then asked the Ministry of Employment and Solidarity to appoint a mediator. The Ministry however, refused, "considering that it could not take sides in an internal dispute", according to a trade union source. The strikers thus accused the Ministry of "non-protection of endangered employees faced with a management which is not applying the law".
Unions decided to suspend their action on 10 July and file a law suit against Disneyland Paris.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), Strike hits Disneyland Paris, article.
