Louvre reopens after staff end 3-day strike

Staff at the Louvre voted on December 19 to end a three-day strike that disrupted operations at the world’s most-visited museum, union representatives told AFP.

Museum management said the Louvre would reopen “as normal” on December 19, after being fully closed to visitors on December 15 and only partially open on December 17-18. The museum was closed on December 16 for its regular weekly day off. The strike caused frustration among thousands of tourists during the busy holiday period, French media writes. 

Unions representing staff, including the CGT and CFDT, said workers voted against continuing the stoppage but warned that further industrial action remains possible due to what they described as insufficient progress in talks with museum management and the culture ministry. Staff have been demanding increased recruitment and improved maintenance of the sprawling former royal palace.

The labour unrest comes amid growing scrutiny of security and infrastructure at the Louvre following a high-profile daylight robbery on October 19, when thieves stole crown jewels valued at more than $100 million. The suspects reportedly used a truck-mounted platform to access a gallery and cut through a glass door in front of visitors before escaping with eight items.

Recent maintenance incidents have added to concerns. In November, a water leak damaged hundreds of books and manuscripts in the Egyptian department, while a gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics was closed in October due to the risk of ceiling beams giving way.

By Sabina Mammadli