Louvre workers launch rolling strike

PARIS

Workers at the Louvre Museum have begun a rolling strike on Dec. 15 to demand extra staff and measures to tackle overcrowding, adding to the woes of the Paris landmark.

As a result of the walk-out, the museum remained closed on Dec. 15 morning, nearly two months after it was victim of an embarrassing daylight heist that saw crown jewels worth $102 million stolen.

The CFDT union said the vote was taken at a meeting of 400 workers in the morning and that they decided to strike for the day.
Christian Galani, from the hard-left CGT trade union said the strike, just as Paris is gearing up for the Christmas holidays, would have broad support across the museum's 2,200-strong workforce.

"We're going to have a lot more strikers than usual," Galani added. "Normally, it's front-of-house and security staff. This time there are scientists, documentarians, collections managers, even curators and colleagues in the workshops, telling us they plan to go on strike."

All have different grievances, adding up to a picture of staff discontent inside the institution, just as it finds itself in a harsh public spotlight following the shocking robbery on Oct. 19.

Reception and security staff complain that they are understaffed and required to manage vast flows of people, with the home of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" welcoming several million people beyond its planned capacity each year.

A spontaneous walk-out protest on June 16 this year led the museum to temporarily close.

The Louvre has become a symbol of so-called "over-tourism," with the 30,000 daily visitors facing what unions call an "obstacle course" of hazards, long queues, as well as sub-standard toilets and catering.

Documentarians and curators are increasingly horrified by the state of disrepair inside the former royal palace, with a recent water leak and the closure of a gallery due to structural problems underlining the difficulties.

"The building is not in a good state," chief Louvre architect Francois Chatillon admitted in front of MPs last month during a parliamentary hearing.

Under-fire Louvre boss Laurence des Cars, who faces persistent calls to resign, warned the government in January in a widely publicised memo about leaks, overheating and the declining visitor experience.

Questions continue to swirl since the break-in over whether it was avoidable and why a national treasure such as the Louvre appeared to be so poorly protected.

Two intruders used a portable extendable ladder to access the gallery containing the crown jewels, cutting through a glass door with angle grinders in front of startled visitors before stealing eight priceless items.