The World Briefly
February 21, 2024Sorry, We’re Closed
France
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Tourists faced disappointment again on Tuesday as a strike closed the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris over financial mismanagement for the second consecutive day, the Associated Press reported.
Eiffel Tower workers, who launched a strike this week over the way the monument is managed financially, want to align salaries with revenue generated from ticket sales. Workers also want better maintenance of the 135-year-old landmark, which is a focal point during the upcoming Paris Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics.
The General Confederation of Labour (CTG) union – which represents many of the tower’s employees – and others have criticized the Eiffel Tower operator’s business model, saying it prioritizes inflated visitor estimates over essential maintenance costs and fair compensation for employees.
On Tuesday, employees voted to extend the strike for another day.
Despite warnings of disruptions on the tower’s website, some tourists expressed disappointment upon arriving at the closed monument, while others said they adjusted their plans to visit later.
This week’s strike marks the second closure of the landmark in two months over labor disputes, France’s Le Monde newspaper noted.
The Eiffel Tower – open nearly every day – attracts nearly seven million visitors a year, around three-quarters of them foreign, according to the landmark’s website. Tourist numbers are expected to soar during the Olympic games.
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