Louvre museum workers have begun an indefinite strike starting this Monday in protest against working conditions, lack of resources, and the state of some of the iconic Parisian museum's facilities, in a context also marked by the recent theft of French crown jewels, which have not yet been recovered.
"The level of exasperation is so high that everything indicates that the conditions are in place for a very powerful strike," Christian Galani, a CGT union representative at the Louvre, told BFMTV on Sunday.
Days earlier, offices and a gallery of ancient Greek antiquities were closed due to structural problems. For the unions, the measure "creates unacceptable discrimination."
Among the main demands are the abandonment of the fare increase, the creation of at least 200 security jobs, salary increases, and an end to the current governance model, which they describe as pyramidal and excessively compartmentalized.
On the eve of the strike, the French Ministry of Culture announced it has tasked Philippe Jost, president of the public institution "Rebuild Notre Dame," with a two-month mission to propose "necessary measures and changes" to help the museum meet its challenges. Jost will work under the supervision of Louvre President Laurence des Cars and must present his recommendations by the end of February.
Ministry sources warned the newspaper Le Figaro that a prolonged closure would have a significant economic impact—estimated at around 400,000 euros per day—and a symbolic impact on the institution.
The Louvre has experienced several critical incidents in recent weeks. The union center, along with CFDT and Sud, filed the strike notice and will hold a general assembly on Monday morning to finalize the protest's format. Galani emphasized the need to "prioritize and establish a hierarchy of emergency measures," focusing on "the dilapidated state of the building and the security of the institution."
The main controversy, however, was the theft on October 19, when a group of thieves stole French crown jewels from the Apollo Gallery. At the end of November, a pipe burst caused a flood that damaged hundreds of antique books in the library. Although suspects have been detained, the pieces remain missing.
The union reported that in the last 15 years, the museum has lost more than 200 jobs—out of a staff of about 2,200 employees—while the number of visitors has grown steadily, making the Louvre the world's most visited museum. In 2024, the institution received 8.7 million visitors, 69% of whom were foreigners.
In this context, the unions reject the new tiered pricing system the museum will implement starting next January. From the 14th of that month, the entrance fee for residents outside the European Economic Area will increase from 22 to 32 euros, a 45% rise, justified by authorities as a contribution to financing the renovation of national heritage.
