Eiffel Tower closes gates for third consecutive day amid strikes

Striking workers continue to close the Eiffel Tower for the third day, demanding salary increases tied to ticket revenue and better maintenance

For the third consecutive day, striking workers have shut down the Eiffel Tower, disrupting plans for the iconic landmark, set to be a focal point for the upcoming Paris Olympics celebrations.

Denis Vavassori, a representative of the CGT union among the strikers, has cautioned that their protest “may continue for days, possibly weeks.”

The employees on strike are advocating for a salary increase linked to the revenue generated from ticket sales. They are also calling for enhanced maintenance of the 135-year-old tower, which displays signs of rust on some of its ironwork.

Annually, the tower generates millions of euros for the city of Paris, its proprietor.

On Wednesday, Paris deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire noted that the extended closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a loss of 130 million euros (about $140.5 million) in revenue for the landmark. However, he emphasized that maintenance of the tower has not been compromised as a result.

Union leaders have consistently criticized the tower operator’s business model, arguing that it relies on overestimating future visitor numbers to the detriment of maintenance expenses and employee salaries.

Source: Newsroom

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