On Monday, Louvre staff backed the start of a strike to protest working conditions, the increase in ticket prices for visitors from outside the EU and security shortcomings exposed after the brazen theft of royal jewels in October.

In a letter addressed to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, the CGT, CFDT and Sud unions announced the strike will begin next Monday. They said that a lack of resources and the prolonged deterioration of working conditions have placed the museum in a crisis position.

Visiting the Louvre has become an obstacle for the millions of people who come to view its collections

– CGT, CFDT and Sud

Reasons for the strike

The unions point to a series of incidents that highlighted systemic problems. The most high-profile was the robbery on 19 October, after which questions were raised about the museum’s security priorities.

The 19 October theft exposed long-known gaps in security priorities

– CGT, CFDT and Sud

Thieves removed jewels estimated to be worth €88 million (about $102 million) and escaped within minutes. Statements say the attackers used a freight elevator to reach one of the windows, used angle grinders to damage display cases and fled on motorcycles; the operation took less than eight minutes.

The stolen items have not been recovered. They include a diamond-and-emerald necklace given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels associated with two 19th-century queens — Marie-Amélie and Hortense — and the pearl-and-diamond tiara of Empress Eugénie.

It was a terrible failure of the security system

– the director of the Louvre

Infrastructure problems

On 26 November a water leak damaged several hundred volumes in the museum library devoted to Egyptian antiquities. The leak was caused by the opening of a valve in the water system; pipe replacement is planned for next year.

Last month the museum temporarily closed part of its back-of-house area and one public gallery after floor slabs weakened. Unions say outdated equipment and staff shortages are already affecting visitor services and leading to the closure of individual displays.

In their appeal to management, the unions demand that additional resources be allocated to repair the building and strengthen security measures to protect the collections, visitors and museum staff.

We work in a neglected museum where the security system proved insufficient

– Christian Galani, CGT representative

The CGT representative also said the vote for the strike was unanimous and warned that open-ended actions could lead to the temporary closure of the museum.

We need to change strategy

– Christian Galani, CGT representative