The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened to the public on Monday after a three-hour delay, though several areas remained closed as staff resumed strike action over pay, working conditions, and staffing levels.
According to Reuters, museum workers met earlier in the day to decide whether to restart a rolling strike that began last month and was paused on December 19 ahead of the Christmas holiday. The renewed action follows ongoing disputes between unions and museum management.
The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, has faced a series of challenges in recent months. In October, four burglars stole jewels valued at approximately $102 million from the museum; most of the items have not been recovered. The institution has also been affected by infrastructure problems, including a water leak that damaged ancient books, drawing renewed attention to the condition of its buildings.
Unions representing Louvre staff say employees are overworked and that the museum is understaffed and poorly managed. They are calling for increased hiring, higher wages, and improved oversight of how the museum’s budget is allocated.
Despite the partial reopening, disruptions are expected to continue if labor negotiations do not progress, union representatives said.
