Too crowded and security at risk, Louvre closes due to employee strike

Stormed by an unmanageable crowd: the Louvre thus closed its doors, yesterday, Monday, May 27, due to a strike by employees who could not tolerate the situation that had arisen. According to workers at the Paris museum, in fact, the number of visitors was such that basic safety standards could not be guaranteed: the unions complained that the number of museum workers was no longer sufficient to withstand such a heavy influx of visitors. As a result, the museum was forced to issue a notice informing the public of the closure on yesterday’s day.

For the CGT union, the main problem is the shortage of staff, identified as the enemy of both museum staff and visitors: in the last ten years, the union says, the Louvre has lost more than 150 reception and security staff. This is despite the fact that visitors to the Louvre have increased by 20 percent over the past decade: in the face of this increase, the staff has not been adequately replenished (on the contrary: it has significantly decreased). “The phenomenon of overcrowding,” reads a statement, “continues without the ministry providing an answer to the problems and at a time when the season that has just begun will set new attendance records.” This situation, according to the union, is widespread: “several sites managed by the ministry are chronically understaffed. Even the Château de Carcassonne was closed on Monday 27 due to a staff agitation, concerned about the quality of visitation, reception and security, but also angry at the deterioration of working conditions.” The needs of the workers, the unions point out, should be taken seriously, otherwise the risk is that of a “cultural and social catastrophe.”

Harsh words also for Culture Minister Franck Riester: “not content with carrying out his hatchet-wielding restructuring of the ministry, and in spite of the fundamental missions of access to culture, protection of heritage, and support for creativity throughout the territory, Franck Riester seeks to be the good little soldier in matters of labor suppression, with the risk of subjecting services and buildings to the greatest difficulties, to the point of paralysis.” The CGT’s concerns are also projected into the future: Paris, in 2024, will host the Olympics and will be subjected to an even greater influx of tourists, and by that date staffing shortages will have to be resolved. “We demand,” the union concludes, “strengthened human and financial resources for the public service of culture, otherwise Franck Riester will be responsible for a disaster of Olympic proportions.”

Today the museum observed its traditional weekly day of closure, and tomorrow museum employees will meet to consider whether or not to continue the strike: it will depend, they tell French media outlets, on the answers they receive from the ministry. Meanwhile, the Louvre lets it be known that on Wednesday opening will be delayed due to the workers’ assembly. Those who had already booked tickets will still be able to request a refund.

Too crowded and security at risk, Louvre closes due to employee strike

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