PARIS (AP) — The Louvre Museum is facing ongoing disruptions as employees voted to extend their strike on Wednesday, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding chronic understaffing, building deterioration, and recent management decisions. These challenges have been exacerbated by a high-profile heist of crown jewels that occurred in October, which raised serious security concerns at the museum.
In a morning general assembly, union workers voted unanimously to continue the walkout that commenced earlier in the week. The museum had already been closed on Tuesday for its designated weekly shutdown. As the situation evolved, it remained uncertain whether the museum would fully open on Wednesday. In the morning, visitors who had pre-purchased tickets queued outside the museum while management assessed staffing levels to determine if sufficient employees were available to safely operate the galleries.
Unions representing museum staff have expressed growing frustration over persistent staff shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, and a proposed increase in ticket prices for visitors from outside Europe. The outrage was further fueled by the recent theft of crown jewels, which exposed significant security lapses within the museum.
In response to these pressing issues, Culture Ministry officials engaged in crisis talks with union representatives on Monday. During these discussions, they proposed measures such as canceling a planned $6.7 million cut in funding for 2026, opening new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor services, and increasing employee compensation. However, union officials deemed these propositions inadequate and insufficient to address the underlying problems.
The vote among employees took place just hours before Louvre President Laurence des Cars is set to testify before the Senate’s culture committee at 4:30 p.m., where lawmakers are continuing their examination of the museum's security failures. Following the robbery, Des Cars publicly acknowledged an "institutional failure" at the Louvre but faced increased scrutiny when it was revealed that she only became aware of a critical 2019 security audit post-heist. Subsequent criticisms from France's Court of Auditors and an administrative inquiry highlighted significant delays in implementing a long-awaited security overhaul.
Last month, the Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures and appointed Philippe Jost, who previously managed the restoration of Notre Dame, to help reorganize the museum. This appointment has been interpreted as a signal of escalating pressure on Louvre leadership to address security and staffing issues more effectively.
The museum's potential reopening is now contingent on the outcome of the vote held by employees on Wednesday, as the strike continues to impact operations and visitor access. The decisions made during this period will play a crucial role in determining the future operational dynamics at one of the world’s most iconic cultural institutions.
