Headlines
Paris' Louvre reopens partially but staff vote to extend strike
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 17, 2025
Last updated: January 7, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 17, 2025
Last updated: January 7, 2026
PARIS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - France's Louvre museum in Paris partially reopened on Wednesday despite its staff unanimously voting to extend a strike they began on Monday over pay and working conditions.
The partial reopening means visitors will be able see the museum's masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace sculpture, the Louvre said.
The strike comes in the wake of a spectacular jewel heist in October, as well as recent infrastructure problems, including a water leak that damaged ancient books, which have exposed glaring security gaps and revealed the museum's deteriorating state.
Nearly 9 million people visited the museum in 2023, or roughly 30,000 visitors per day.
Unions have said that staff at the Louvre are overworked and mismanaged, and they are calling for more hiring, pay increases and a redirection of spending.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who has faced intense criticism since burglars in October made off with crown jewels worth 88 million euros ($103.14 million), is due to answer questions from the French Senate on Wednesday afternoon.
(Reporting by John Cotton, Dominique Vidalon, writing by Louise Breusch Rasmussen)
Infrastructure refers to the fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area, including transportation, communication, sewage, water, and electric systems.
A museum heist is a theft that occurs in a museum, typically involving valuable art or artifacts. Such crimes can expose security vulnerabilities within the institution.
A union is an organized group of workers who come together to make decisions about the terms of their work, including wages, benefits, and working conditions.
A masterpiece is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship. In the context of art, it often refers to a work that is considered the best of an artist's career.
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