The Louvre Museum said it would remain partially open to the public on Wednesday, even as employees voted to extend a strike protesting what unions describe as increasingly “untenable conditions” at the world\u2019s most visited museum.<\/p>\n
The action comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the Paris landmark, which is still reeling from the high-profile jewel heist <\/a>on 19 October. <\/p>\n Staff representatives cited a growing list of concerns, including chronic understaffing, deteriorating infrastructure, worsening working conditions and plans to raise ticket prices for visitors from outside the European Union.<\/p>\n “Dear visitors, the mus\u00e9e du Louvre opened a little late this morning. Due to a strike, some rooms in the Louvre Museum are exceptionally closed this Wednesday, December 17,” explained the museum in a tweet around noon Paris time. <\/p>\n The Culture Ministry had sought to ease tensions by announcing several measures, including the cancellation of a planned \u20ac5.7 million cut to the museum\u2019s funding in 2026, the launch of targeted recruitment for visitor services and security staff, and a pay adjustment. <\/p>\n Unions, however, argue that these commitments fall short, calling instead for long-term guarantees on staffing levels and compensation.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, around 400 employees had already voted unanimously in favour of strike action. <\/p>\n On Monday, the museum closed its doors<\/a>, leaving visitors, some of whom had travelled long distances during the busy end-of-year period, to learn of the disruption upon arrival. The museum was shuttered on Tuesday for its weekly closed day.<\/p>\n The ongoing strike has further weakened the museum\u2019s leadership at a time of intense scrutiny. <\/p>\n Louvre president Laurence des Cars appeared once again before the Senate\u2019s culture committee on Wednesday afternoon, as lawmakers examined security failings exposed by October\u2019s theft. <\/p>\n