Louvre to partially reopen after vote to extend strike over working conditions
The Louvre Museum will partially reopen on Wednesday after staff voted to extend a strike over pay and working conditions, according to union representatives. Frustrations at the world's most visited museum were further sharpened by fallout from the theft of crown jewels during a daylight robbery that exposed serious security lapses.
Issued on: 17/12/2025
The Louvre Museum will partially reopen on Wednesday after staff voted to extend a strike over pay and working conditions, according to union representatives. Frustrations at the world's most visited museum were further sharpened by fallout from the theft of crown jewels during a daylight robbery that exposed serious security lapses.
Issued on: 17/12/2025
By: FRANCE 24
French soldiers from the "Sentinelle" security plan patrol past the glass Pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris, on December 17, 2025. © Abdul Saboor, Reuters
The Louvre Museum is set to partially reopen after staff voted Wednesday to extend a strike that has disrupted operations at the world’s most visited museum.
Unions say frustration has mounted over staff shortages, ageing infrastructure and a planned increase in ticket prices for non-European visitors.
Tensions have been further sharpened by fallout from the theft of crown jewels during a daylight robbery that exposed serious security lapses at the museum.
The union decision came during a morning general assembly, after workers had adopted the walkout unanimously earlier this week.
The museum was already closed on Tuesday for its regular weekly shutdown.
WATCH MOREIs the Louvre cursed? Water leak triggers new wave of disinformation
Culture Ministry officials held crisis talks with unions on Monday and proposed to cancel a planned $6.7 million cut in 2026 funding, open new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor services and increase staff compensation. Union officials said the measures fell short
Louvre President Laurence des Cars was scheduled to appear before the Senate’s culture committee later Wednesday as lawmakers continue probing security failures at the museum.
Des Cars has acknowledged an “institutional failure” following the heist, but has come under renewed scrutiny after admitting she only learned of a critical 2019 security audit after the robbery. France’s Court of Auditors and a separate administrative inquiry have since criticised delays in implementing a long-promised security overhaul.
The Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures last month and assigned Philippe Jost, who oversaw the Notre Dame restoration, to help reorganise the museum. The move was widely seen as a sign of mounting pressure on Louvre leadership.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
The Louvre Museum is set to partially reopen after staff voted Wednesday to extend a strike that has disrupted operations at the world’s most visited museum.
Unions say frustration has mounted over staff shortages, ageing infrastructure and a planned increase in ticket prices for non-European visitors.
Tensions have been further sharpened by fallout from the theft of crown jewels during a daylight robbery that exposed serious security lapses at the museum.
The union decision came during a morning general assembly, after workers had adopted the walkout unanimously earlier this week.
The museum was already closed on Tuesday for its regular weekly shutdown.
WATCH MOREIs the Louvre cursed? Water leak triggers new wave of disinformation
Culture Ministry officials held crisis talks with unions on Monday and proposed to cancel a planned $6.7 million cut in 2026 funding, open new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor services and increase staff compensation. Union officials said the measures fell short
Louvre President Laurence des Cars was scheduled to appear before the Senate’s culture committee later Wednesday as lawmakers continue probing security failures at the museum.
Des Cars has acknowledged an “institutional failure” following the heist, but has come under renewed scrutiny after admitting she only learned of a critical 2019 security audit after the robbery. France’s Court of Auditors and a separate administrative inquiry have since criticised delays in implementing a long-promised security overhaul.
The Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures last month and assigned Philippe Jost, who oversaw the Notre Dame restoration, to help reorganise the museum. The move was widely seen as a sign of mounting pressure on Louvre leadership.
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
The Louvre partially reopened on Wednesday despite staff voting unanimously to extend a strike over pay and working conditions, union representatives said.
Issued on: 17/12/2025 - RFI
Visitors queue outside the Louvre Museum in Paris on December 17, 2025 as the opening was delayed while unions voted on extending a strike over working conditions. The museum had closed two days earlier after staff walked out. AFP - BLANCA CRUZ
The museum’s management told the French news agency AFP that some areas were open even though not all spaces were accessible.
“The museum is opening and the first visitors are coming in,” the management said.
Staff meeting in a general assembly voted unanimously on Wednesday morning to continue the strike that had already stopped the Louvre opening on Monday. Tuesday is the museum’s weekly closing day.
“The strike notice has been maintained and the strike was voted unanimously,” said Valérie Baud, a representative of the CFDT union, speaking to reporters outside the museum.
Opening delayed
A sign outside the glass pyramid told visitors that “the opening of the museum is currently delayed” and that the Louvre would communicate “the terms of a possible opening as soon as possible”.
Some visitors said they backed the workers.
“I am not angry because I respect the workers and they have to defend their rights,” said Maximilian Cimander, a 23-year-old German student in Paris for the week, speaking to AFP.
Others feared missing their chance to get in.
“We hope the museum will be open because we are going back to Japan on Thursday,” said Chika Nishi, a 29-year-old law student. “It’s now or never to visit it.”
Baud warned against reopening in these conditions, nearly two months after the theft of eight French crown jewels in a daytime robbery.
“The Louvre’s management must not put the safety of the museum at risk,” she said.
Fourth suspected Louvre thief remanded as €88m jewels remain missing
Ministry proposals rejected
Gary Guillaud of the CGT union said culture ministry proposals had been turned down.
“There was a unanimous refusal of the ministry’s proposals,” he said, calling them “undignified”.
Workers are protesting about staff shortages, building damage and higher prices for non-European visitors. The CFDT said at least 300 staff were at the assembly.
A crisis meeting took place on Monday at the culture ministry. “There is great exasperation among staff,” said Christian Galani, a CGT delegate.
The ministry has proposed cancelling a planned €5.7 million cut in funding for 2026, redeploying staff, opening recruitment for visitor services and surveillance roles and paying an exceptional bonus.
The Louvre announced emergency measures in early November, including anti-intrusion devices.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati has also assigned Philippe Jost, in charge of the Notre-Dame restoration site, a two-month mission to reorganise the museum.
(with AFP)
The museum’s management told the French news agency AFP that some areas were open even though not all spaces were accessible.
“The museum is opening and the first visitors are coming in,” the management said.
Staff meeting in a general assembly voted unanimously on Wednesday morning to continue the strike that had already stopped the Louvre opening on Monday. Tuesday is the museum’s weekly closing day.
“The strike notice has been maintained and the strike was voted unanimously,” said Valérie Baud, a representative of the CFDT union, speaking to reporters outside the museum.
Opening delayed
A sign outside the glass pyramid told visitors that “the opening of the museum is currently delayed” and that the Louvre would communicate “the terms of a possible opening as soon as possible”.
Some visitors said they backed the workers.
“I am not angry because I respect the workers and they have to defend their rights,” said Maximilian Cimander, a 23-year-old German student in Paris for the week, speaking to AFP.
Others feared missing their chance to get in.
“We hope the museum will be open because we are going back to Japan on Thursday,” said Chika Nishi, a 29-year-old law student. “It’s now or never to visit it.”
Baud warned against reopening in these conditions, nearly two months after the theft of eight French crown jewels in a daytime robbery.
“The Louvre’s management must not put the safety of the museum at risk,” she said.
Fourth suspected Louvre thief remanded as €88m jewels remain missing
Ministry proposals rejected
Gary Guillaud of the CGT union said culture ministry proposals had been turned down.
“There was a unanimous refusal of the ministry’s proposals,” he said, calling them “undignified”.
Workers are protesting about staff shortages, building damage and higher prices for non-European visitors. The CFDT said at least 300 staff were at the assembly.
A crisis meeting took place on Monday at the culture ministry. “There is great exasperation among staff,” said Christian Galani, a CGT delegate.
The ministry has proposed cancelling a planned €5.7 million cut in funding for 2026, redeploying staff, opening recruitment for visitor services and surveillance roles and paying an exceptional bonus.
The Louvre announced emergency measures in early November, including anti-intrusion devices.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati has also assigned Philippe Jost, in charge of the Notre-Dame restoration site, a two-month mission to reorganise the museum.
(with AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment