The French Louvre Museum in Paris partially opened on Wednesday, despite its staff unanimously voting to continue the strike they began on Monday over wages and working conditions, UNN reports with reference to the museum's statement.
Dear visitors, the Louvre Museum opened a little later this morning. Due to the strike, some halls in the Louvre Museum will be exclusively closed this Wednesday, December 17. We apologize for any inconvenience
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As Reuters notes, the partial opening means that visitors will be able to see the museum's masterpieces, including the "Mona Lisa" and the sculpture "Winged Victory of Samothrace."
The strike comes after a high-profile robbery in October, when jewels were stolen from the museum, as well as recent infrastructure problems, including a water leak that damaged ancient books, which revealed clear security gaps and showed the deteriorating condition of the museum.
In 2023, the museum was visited by almost 9 million people, or approximately 30,000 visitors per day.
Unions said Louvre staff were overworked and poorly managed, and they are calling for more hiring, higher wages, and a redirection of spending.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who faced harsh criticism after robbers stole crown jewels worth 88 million euros ($103.14 million) in October, is due to answer questions from the French Senate on Wednesday afternoon.