AP: The Eiffel Tower Reopens To Visitors After A Six-Day Closure Due To An Employee Strike

Deeandra Michel, Miles Ruder, Associated Press,

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PARIS (AP) β€” The Eiffel Tower reopened to visitors on Sunday after a six-day closure because of striking employees demanding better maintenance of the historic landmark, showing traces of rust, and salary hikes.

The operator of the 330-meter (1,083-foot) tower said in a statement it reached an agreement with unions representing the workers after promising to allocate an β€œambitious 380 million euro (about $412 million) investment by 2031” for renovation work. This week, it also launched salary negotiations, expected to be finalized next month, after employees on strike demanded an increase proportionate to revenue from ticket sales.

The 135-year-old tower will feature prominently in the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Games andΒ the followingΒ Paralympics. The Olympic and Paralympic medals in Paris are beingΒ embedded with pieces from a hexagonal chunk of iron taken fromΒ the historic landmark.

The Eiffel Tower is typically open 365 days a year. Last year, the monument was closed to visitors for 10 days duringΒ massive protests across FranceΒ against the government’s plan to reform the country’s pension system.

ORIGINAL STORY (2/19/24, 8:55 A.M.)

PARIS, FRANCE (AP) β€” Visitors to the Eiffel TowerΒ were turned away on Monday because of a strike over poor financial management at one of the world’s most-visited sites.

A sign was posted at the entrance in English, saying, β€œDue to strike, the Eiffel Tower is closed. We apologize.”

The hugely popular 300-meter (984-foot) landmark in central Paris has seen soaring visitor numbers in the lead up to theΒ Summer OlympicsΒ in the French capital.

Tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Monday were warned of disruptions in multiple languages on its website. Visitors were advised to check the website before heading to the monument or to postpone their trip. Electronic ticket owners were told to check their inboxes beforehand.

β€œWe’re a little disappointed but we understand that people deserve a fair wage and they deserve proper working conditions,” said Marisa Solis, an American tourist, visiting Paris from New York City.

The Eiffel Tower is typically open 365 days a year. Monday’s closure is the second in two months due to strikes. In December,Β it was closed to visitors for an entire dayΒ during Christmas and New Year’s holidays because of a strike over contract negotiations.

Morgan McKenny, an American living in Germany, has come to Paris to celebrate her birthday and decided to enter the landmark Monday after surveying it from all sides over the weekend.

β€œKnowing that I can’t come to the tower today is very, very disappointing,” McKenny said. She added: β€œI appreciate the workers wanting to keep the tower going for the next few hundred years.”

Stephane Dieu of the CGT union, which represents a large number of the Eiffel Tower’s employees, said Monday’s strike is aimed at a salary increase in proportion to the incoming revenue from ticket sales and improved maintenance of the monument, which is owned by the Paris municipality.

Union leaders have criticized the Eiffel Tower operator’s business model, saying it’s based on an inflated estimate of future visitor numbers, maintenance cost expenses and employees’ work compensation.

β€œThey are giving priority to short term benefits over long term conservation of the monument and the well-being of the company we are working for,” Dieu said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Eiffel Tower picket line on Monday.