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Louvre Closes for Day as Staff Strike Over Safety and Staffing

Unions cite unsafe conditions tied to overcrowding, urging the culture minister to intervene.

Overview

  • About 400 employees voted to walk out on Monday, and the museum announced a full-day closure with ticket refunds.
  • CFDT-Culture says protections for collections, staff and visitors are inadequate, while CGT forecasts wide participation spanning security, reception, researchers and curators.
  • Unions describe the action as a one-day strike that could be extended, pressing for added posts in reception and surveillance.
  • Recent incidents fueling concerns include a daytime jewel theft in October, with four suspects in custody and the items still missing, and a water leak that damaged 300–400 Egyptology library documents in early December.
  • Louvre leadership has outlined new security steps including a mobile police post and 100 additional surveillance cameras by year’s end, as broader renovation plans envision a new entrance and a dedicated Mona Lisa space.