Visitors were left stranded outside the Louvre Museum in Paris on Monday following a wildcat strike initiated by staff over workplace conditions and crowding, coinciding with a monthly union meeting.
On Monday morning, large crowds gathered to enter the museum to view renowned artworks, such as the Mona Lisa, but were met with the news that the museum would remain closed for several hours due to a “social movement” by staff, according to a museum spokeswoman.
As tourists waited under the sun, lines extended across the museum's plaza and beneath the iconic glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei. Inside, museum staff were discussing workplace issues, leading to the unauthorized work stoppage.
Christian Galani, a spokesman for the C.G.T.-Culture labor union, stated that the strike was not planned but resulted from staff exhaustion over deteriorating working conditions. He mentioned that approximately 200 jobs had been lost at the Louvre over the past 15 years, and despite promises from President Emmanuel Macron to improve conditions, little progress had been made.
Galani expressed concerns about overcrowding and poor conditions within the museum, stating, “There are too many visitors, and the rooms are in very bad condition.”
The Louvre eventually reopened at 2:30 p.m., though it remained unclear which staff members returned to work. The museum closed again at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, as it is closed on Tuesdays.
Over the years, the Louvre has faced challenges with overcrowding, particularly from tour groups. In early 2023, management announced plans to limit daily attendance to 30,000 people, down from pre-pandemic levels of up to 45,000.
By late 2023, the museum also announced an increase in its basic ticket price from 17 euros to 22 euros to address rising energy costs and support free admission programs for local residents.
The Louvre houses over 33,000 works of art, including the famous Mona Lisa, which has contributed to what is known as the “Mona Lisa problem,” where throngs of tourists crowd the gallery to see the painting, causing difficulties for both staff and visitors.
In response to these issues, Macron announced plans in January for the Mona Lisa to be displayed in a separate exhibition space connected to the museum, requiring its own ticket.
The tensions at the Louvre surfaced amid broader protests across Europe, including in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, where activists expressed concerns about mass tourism and its impact on local communities, citing issues such as high housing costs and environmental degradation.