Louvre Strike Continues as Staff Extend Walkout Over Security and Staffing Concerns

Paris, December 17, 2025: Employees of the Louvre Museum on Wednesday voted to extend their ongoing strike, deepening uncertainty over the reopening of the world’s most visited museum amid mounting concerns over chronic understaffing, deteriorating infrastructure and security lapses.

The decision was taken at a general assembly earlier in the day, where workers unanimously backed the continuation of the walkout that began earlier this week. The museum, which was closed on Tuesday for its regular weekly shutdown, remained in limbo on Wednesday as authorities assessed whether enough staff were available to safely open the galleries.

Visitors holding pre-booked tickets were seen waiting outside the iconic museum, while management said a final decision on reopening would depend on staffing levels through the day.

Union representatives said tensions have been building for months due to persistent staff shortages, ageing facilities and proposed management measures, including a plan to raise ticket prices for visitors from outside the European Union. The situation intensified after a daylight theft of crown jewels in October, which exposed serious security vulnerabilities and renewed scrutiny of the museum’s preparedness.

Earlier this week, officials from France’s Culture Ministry held emergency talks with union leaders and proposed several measures, such as withdrawing a planned €6.7 million budget cut for 2026, initiating new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor services, and improving staff pay. However, unions maintained that the proposals fell short of addressing long-standing structural issues.

The strike extension comes just hours before Louvre President Laurence des Cars was scheduled to appear before the Senate’s culture committee, which is examining security failures at the museum. Des Cars has previously acknowledged systemic shortcomings following the October heist and admitted she became aware of a key 2019 security audit only after the robbery occurred.

Subsequent reviews by France’s Court of Auditors and a separate administrative inquiry have criticised delays in implementing a comprehensive security overhaul. In response, the Culture Ministry last month announced emergency anti-intrusion measures and appointed Philippe Jost, who oversaw the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, to help reorganise museum operations.

With negotiations still unresolved and staff dissatisfaction running high, the reopening of the Louvre now hinges on further talks between management and unions and the outcome of the evolving labour dispute.