The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed on Monday as workers began a strike over staffing shortages, urgent renovations, and a planned ticket price rise for non-EU visitors, including British and American tourists. The world’s most-visited museum, which has faced a jewel heist, a water leak, and safety concerns in recent months, could see further closures during one of its busiest periods if staff continue to walk out.
Three trade unions at the Louvre—CGT, Sud, and CFDT—announced a rolling strike, with 400 employees voting unanimously to begin action on Monday morning. Staff described themselves as “the last bastion before collapse,” citing years of underinvestment and staff cuts. A night security guard with 20 years of experience said he had never seen staff so angry, while a daytime guard of 14 years described extreme pressure in their working lives.
The strike follows a series of incidents at the museum. In October, a four-person gang stole an estimated €88 million (£77 million) of French crown jewels in seven minutes before escaping on scooters. Four men have been arrested, but the jewels remain missing. In November, a water leak damaged 300 to 400 items in the Egyptian department, and a gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics was closed due to ceiling safety fears.
Unions are protesting a 45% ticket price increase for visitors from outside the European Economic Area, set to take effect in January. Visitors from the US, UK, and China will pay €32 to enter. Vanessa Michaut-Valora of Sud Culture called the increase “unacceptable,” noting that Egyptian visitors would be charged extra to see their own heritage in the museum’s Egyptian collection. Christian Galani of the CGT described it as “unacceptable discrimination” and an “absolute scandal” to make foreign tourists pay for years of accumulated failings.
Staff are also demanding a halt to President Emmanuel Macron’s project to build a new entrance and a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa, arguing that funds should instead be used for building restoration and security upgrades. Since 2015, 200 jobs have been cut, many in security. France’s state auditor recently criticised the pace of security improvements as “woefully inadequate,” saying the museum had prioritised high-profile projects over essential maintenance.
