Louvre Reopens After Delay as Staff Resume Strike in Paris

The Louvre museum in Paris reopened to the public on Monday after a three-hour delay, but some areas remained closed as staff resumed strike action over wages, working conditions and staffing levels.

according to ReutersEarlier in the day, museum staff met to decide whether to resume a rolling strike that began last month and was suspended ahead of the Christmas holiday on December 19. The new action follows an ongoing dispute between the union and museum management.

The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, has faced a series of challenges in recent months. In October, four thieves stole approximately $102 million worth of jewelry from the museum; most of the items have not yet been recovered. The institution has also been affected by infrastructure problems, including water leaks that damaged ancient books, sparking renewed concern about the condition of its buildings.

The union representing Louvre employees says employees are overworked and the museum is understaffed and mismanaged. They called for increased hiring, higher wages and greater oversight of museum budget allocations.

Union representatives said disruption is expected to continue if labor talks don’t make progress despite the partial reopening.