Louvre staff call off strike, allowing museum to open normally after three days of disruption over staffing and maintenance concerns
PARIS: Staff at the Louvre have voted to end their strike, allowing the world’s most-visited museum to reopen fully.
Union representatives confirmed the decision to AFP, ending three days of disruption that had frustrated thousands of holidaymakers.
Management stated the Louvre would open “as normal” on Friday.
The museum was closed all day on Monday and only partially open on Wednesday and Thursday due to the industrial action.
Staff were pressing demands for more recruitment and better maintenance of the vast complex.
Union leaders warned of potential future action due to “insufficient progress” in talks with management and the culture ministry.
The strike added to the museum’s recent troubles, which include a high-profile heist in October.
Two intruders stole crown jewels worth more than USD 100 million from a gallery in a daylight robbery.
Questions persist over whether the theft was avoidable and why the jewels appeared so poorly protected.
Recent incidents have also highlighted maintenance problems within the historic building.
A water leak in November damaged hundreds of books and manuscripts in the Egyptian department.
A gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics was closed in October due to concerns over ceiling beams.
The museum’s chief architect has described the building as “not in a good state”. – AFP
