Image Credits - ABC News
For the second consecutive day, visitors were turned away from the Eiffel Tower due to a strike over financial mismanagement. The CGT union, representing many tower employees, voted unanimously to extend the strike. Denis Vavassori from the CGT union, representing numerous Eiffel Tower employees, announced that the strike was extended unanimously on Tuesday. He expressed employees’ readiness to continue until their demands are addressed but also expressed hope for a resolution with the Paris municipality, the tower’s owner before the Summer Games commence.
Tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday were cautioned about potential disruptions through multilingual notices on its website. Visitors were advised to monitor the website for updates or consider postponing their trip. Additionally, holders of electronic tickets were urged to check their email in advance.
The strike’s objectives include salary increases aligned with revenue from ticket sales and enhanced maintenance of the 135-year-old landmark, which will play a significant role in the Paris Games and subsequent Paralympics from July 26 to August 11. Union leaders have criticized the Eiffel Tower operator’s business model, alleging an overestimation of future visitor numbers, leading to inadequate maintenance funding and employee compensation.
The Eiffel Tower, usually open every day of the year, experienced its second closure in two months due to strikes. In December, it shut down for a day during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays because of a strike related to contract negotiations.
Last year, the iconic landmark was inaccessible to visitors for ten days amid widespread protests in France against the government’s proposed pension system reforms.
Last year, the iconic landmark was inaccessible to visitors for ten days amid widespread protests in France against the government’s proposed pension system reforms.
