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Louvre Closes as Workers Launch Open-Ended Strike Over Security and Staffing

A staff vote triggered an open‑ended stoppage as unions seek binding commitments on hiring, security, maintenance.

Overview

  • About 400 employees voted unanimously to continue a renewable strike, shutting the museum on Monday and leaving future openings uncertain.
  • Unions cite security failures underscored by the Oct. 19 crown‑jewel theft, a gallery closure over fragile beams, and a Nov. 27 leak that damaged hundreds of library books.
  • Demands include at least 200 new security posts, pay increases, governance changes, and scrapping the Jan. 14 plan to raise tickets for non‑EEE visitors from €22 to €32.
  • Culture Minister Rachida Dati has opened talks and assigned Notre‑Dame reconstruction chief Philippe Jost to a two‑month review with initial recommendations due by late February 2026.
  • Union officials report tentative budget and staffing progress but want written guarantees, as officials warn of potential losses of roughly €400,000 per day if closures persist.