Under a collective strike call initiated by the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT), the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), and the Solidarity Union (SUD), the Louvre was forced to close on the 15th, leaving thousands of tourists turned away at the door.
On the morning of the 15th, a large number of striking employees gathered in front of the Louvre's iconic glass pyramid, holding banners reading "Louvre Strike" to block the main entrance while chanting in unison: "Who owns the Louvre? We do!"
Security staff stood nearby, advising the constant stream of visitors to leave. Since the Louvre is regularly closed on Tuesdays, if the strike continues, tourists could be unable to enter for at least three consecutive days.
Facing an uninterrupted flow of visitors, regular building damage, and meager pay, the Louvre's 2,200 employees have put forward several demands.
Galani, a representative of the General Confederation of Labour, said: "In the past 15 years, we have lost 200 full-time equivalent positions, while over the same period, visitor numbers have increased by a third."
The unions, museum management, and the French Ministry of Culture are holding several rounds of negotiations in an attempt to end this unprecedented crisis.
Since the high-profile theft that occurred on October 19th, the world’s largest museum has been experiencing a turbulent period, plagued by a series of management failures. Employee representatives have condemned and broken off relations with the current management.
As a typical example of "overtourism," the Louvre welcomes 30,000 visitors each day, far exceeding its original design capacity. Long-term overloading has resulted in lengthy queues, basic restroom and dining facilities, and a significantly diminished visitor experience.
Recent leaks and the closure of exhibition halls due to structural issues have even exposed the embarrassing disrepair of this landmark building.
The Louvre strike is, without a doubt, the worst kind of “accident” for tourists.
37-year-old South Korean tourist Kim Min-soo (phonetic), who traveled to Paris with his wife for their honeymoon, said: "I am very disappointed because the Louvre was the main purpose of our trip — we just wanted to see the Mona Lisa."