Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum faced an unprecedented closure on Monday as hundreds of employees initiated strike action to protest worsening working conditions and inadequate compensation. The work stoppage, unanimously supported by approximately 400 staff members through their trade unions, transformed the world’s most visited museum into a scene of quiet protest rather than cultural exchange.
Union representatives from CFDT, CGT, and Sud cited critical understaffing issues and insufficient resources as primary grievances. According to Christian Galani, CGT representative, the museum’s reception and security sector has suffered a devastating loss of 200 full-time equivalent positions over the past 15 years, despite visitor numbers increasing by 50% during the same period.
The strike announcement comes amid mounting operational challenges at the historic institution. Recent security vulnerabilities were exposed when burglars successfully stole French crown jewels valued at €88 million approximately two months ago. Additionally, a water leakage incident last week resulted in damage to hundreds of valuable books within the museum’s collections.
Thousands of international visitors expressed disappointment upon encountering closed doors. Minsoo Kim, a honeymooner from Seoul, shared his frustration: ‘The Louvre was the main reason for our Paris visit—we specifically wanted to see the Mona Lisa.’ London resident Natalia Brown acknowledged the workers’ plight while lamenting the unfortunate timing: ‘I understand why they’re doing it, but it’s just unfortunate for us.’
Museum management declined immediate comment regarding the strike action. The Louvre, which recorded 8.7 million visitors in 2024, typically closes on Tuesdays for maintenance. Employees are scheduled to reconvene Wednesday morning to determine subsequent action plans.