Employees at the Louvre Museum in Paris have voted to extend their strike, causing ongoing disruptions at the world’s most visited museum. The workers are protesting against chronic understaffing, deteriorating building conditions, and recent management decisions, concerns that have intensified following a brazen robbery of the museum’s crown jewels in October 2023.
The decision to prolong the strike was made during a general assembly held on Monday, where employees unanimously agreed to the walkout. As a result, the museum was already closed on Tuesday for its regular weekly shutdown, and it remains uncertain whether it will fully reopen on Wednesday. Visitors with tickets found themselves queuing outside the museum as management assessed whether enough staff could be deployed to safely open the galleries.
Tensions have escalated significantly since the theft, which highlighted serious security vulnerabilities at the museum. In response, officials from France’s Culture Ministry held crisis talks with union representatives on Monday. They proposed several measures, including postponing a planned funding cut set for 2026, initiating new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor services, and increasing staff compensation. However, union officials deemed these proposals insufficient.
Laurence des Cars, the president of the Louvre, is scheduled to appear before the Senate’s culture committee later on Wednesday. This session is part of a broader investigation into the museum’s security failures. Des Cars has acknowledged an “institutional failure” following the heist, facing renewed scrutiny after revealing she only became aware of a critical security audit from 2019 after the robbery.
Further complicating matters, France’s Court of Auditors and a separate administrative inquiry have criticized the delays in executing a long-promised security overhaul. In light of recent events, the Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures last month and appointed Philippe Jost, who previously managed the restoration of Notre-Dame, to assist in reorganizing the museum. This appointment is seen as an indication of increasing pressure on the Louvre’s leadership.
As the strike continues, the future of the Louvre’s operations remains uncertain, with both staff and management facing significant challenges. The situation underscores the pressing need for improved working conditions and security measures at one of the world’s most iconic cultural institutions.
