Eiffel Tower reopens after staff strike over female worker restrictions

The Eiffel Tower reopened on September 8, a day after one of the world’s most visited landmarks was closed following a staff strike over what a union official described as “unacceptable” management instructions restricting the presence of female employees during a visit by a Hindu delegation.

Diane Davoine of the CGT union told The Associated Press that tensions among staff at the 330-meter (1,083-foot) landmark escalated over the weekend after management instructed employees that female workers should “not be in contact” with a visiting delegation from Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha.

The group, known as BAPS, is a worldwide religious and civic organization within the Swaminarayan sect, a branch of Hinduism. It has been holding celebrations marking the inauguration of a traditional Hindu stone temple in Paris.

In a written statement sent to AP,  BAPS said it had coordinated with Eiffel Tower management to minimize disruption to staff and visitors ahead of a visit by a delegation of around 100 people.

The coordination was “never, at any point, intended as a request rooted in gender, and any suggestion to the contrary does not reflect the spirit or values of our fellowship or the delegation,” the statement said.

BAPS added that it “remains firmly committed to the principles of equality, mutual respect, and service to all, regardless of gender, background, or belief — values that lie at the very heart of our tradition’s teachings and community work worldwide.” 

In an earlier statement, the group offered “sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation.”

The company operating the Eiffel Tower did not immediately comment.

The 137-year-old landmark attracts around 7 million visitors annually. Davoine said the tower regularly hosts special delegations, including US President Donald Trump, visiting royals and celebrities such as Britney Spears, with staff accustomed to making special arrangements. However, she said the instructions issued on September 5 were exceptional and “unacceptable.”

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said on X that he would launch an investigation into the incident.

“Gender equality will never stop at the foot of our historic monuments, or anywhere else in this city,” he said. “It must apply everywhere and to everyone. I will ensure that it does — everywhere, without exception.”

The Eiffel Tower has previously been closed because of industrial action. In February 2024, the landmark was shut for six days as employees went on strike over maintenance of the historic site and wage demands.

By Vafa Guliyeva