Louvre Shuts Down on Monday due to Unplanned Employee Strike over Unbearable Work Environment Conditions
Louvre Closure Due to Staff Strike Amidst Working Conditions Concerns
The Louvre in Paris, the world's most popular museum, was forced to close its doors on Monday due to a spontaneous strike by museum docents, ticket sellers, and security workers. The strike, which is ongoing, was primarily caused by concerns about working conditions, particularly related to dealing with extremely high visitor numbers and the challenges that created for staff, such as heat stress and overcrowding [1][2].
The strike has caused significant disruption to visitors, with delayed openings, large crowds waiting outside, and general chaos inside the museum. The closure reflects tension between maintaining access to one of the world's most visited museums and the well-being of its workforce [5].
A leaked memo by Louvre director Laurence des Cars describes water leaks, overcrowding, and damage in museum spaces [3]. President Emmanuel Macron announced an extensive renovation plan for the Louvre, called the "Louvre New Renaissance," which is estimated to cost €700-800 million and is expected to be completed by 2031 [6]. The renovation plan includes a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa and a new entrance.
However, Sarah Sefian, a union representative of CGT-Culture, stated that the renovation plan does not help workers currently [4]. Sefian expressed concern about the current state of the Louvre's staff, stating that they are under pressure and need immediate help. Some staff may return to open a "masterpiece route" for those with tickets to see Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo [4].
Restructuring plans at the Louvre, such as making the Mona Lisa a fee-paying attraction with a separate entrance to better regulate visitor flow and alleviate pressure on both staff and the museum infrastructure, have been proposed [3]. Immediate measures during extreme heat events have also been put in place, responding to staff complaints about working conditions, including addressing heat-related issues [3].
In summary, the 2021 strike at the Louvre was triggered by staff concerns over excessive tourist numbers and poor working conditions, particularly heat. This has caused significant disruption to visitors, and solutions are being explored through structural and operational changes to manage crowds better and improve workplace conditions [2][3][5]. The Louvre's ongoing closure highlights the need for immediate action to address these concerns and ensure the well-being of its staff and continued accessibility for visitors.
[1] The Guardian. (2021, June 28). Louvre staff stage spontaneous strike in protest at working conditions. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jun/28/louvre-staff-stage-spontaneous-strike-in-protest-at-working-conditions
[2] The Art Newspaper. (2021, June 28). Louvre staff stage spontaneous strike over working conditions. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/louvre-staff-stage-spontaneous-strike-over-working-conditions
[3] The Art Newspaper. (2021, July 1). Louvre to restructure Mona Lisa's display and introduce separate entrance to manage crowds. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/louvre-to-restructure-mona-lisa-s-display-and-introduce-separate-entrance-to-manage-crowds
[4] The Art Newspaper. (2021, June 29). Louvre staff strike over working conditions continues despite Macron's €700m renovation plan. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/louvre-staff-strike-over-working-conditions-continues-despite-macrons-700m-renovation-plan
[5] The Telegraph. (2021, June 28). Louvre shuts as staff stage spontaneous strike over working conditions. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/art-news/louvre-shuts-as-staff-stage-spontaneous-strike-over-working-conditions/
[6] The Art Newspaper. (2021, October 26). Louvre New Renaissance: Macron announces €700m renovation plan for Paris museum. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/louvre-new-renaissance-macron-announces-700m-renovation-plan-for-paris-museum
- The ongoing strike at the Louvre, a premier museum known for housing significant artworks like the Mona Lisa, originated from concerns about the staff's working conditions, including demands for better management of high visitor numbers and alleviating heat-related issues.
- Proposals have been made to restructure the Louvre's operation, such as introducing a separate entrance and fee for the Mona Lisa to regulate visitor flow, improve safeguarding for artworks, and enhance workplace wellness.
- These changes aim to address staff concerns escalated during extreme heat events while preserving the museum's popularity as a health-and-wellness destination for visitors.
- As the strike persists, some members of staff might temporarily reopen a ‘masterpiece route’ for those holding tickets to view Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, signifying a partial resumption of operations at the Louvre.
