Eiffel Tower Shuts Down as Workers Strike on 100th Anniversary of Founder Gustave Eiffel’s Death
Paris – On the centennial of founder Gustave Eiffel’s death, the iconic Eiffel Tower went dark and closed its gates to visitors on December 28th due to a worker strike over contract negotiations. Employees organized the shutdown to protest management strategies they deem unsustainable.
All public access was halted to the 1,063 foot tall iron lattice tower in Paris, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. The move by the CGT labor union coincided symbolically with the 100-year mark since the tower’s original visionary, Gustave Eiffel, passed away in 1923 at age 91. In a statement, the union criticized the current business model and leadership of the tower’s operating company, SETE, as being “too ambitious and unsustainable.” Their claims center on inflated visitor projections along with underestimated renovation costs.
The sudden one-day work stoppage caught many tourists off guard, leaving some stranded with non-refundable tickets. While monument entry was blocked, restaurants remained open to those already onsite. Negotiations between SETE management and the union have dragged on over a new collective pay agreement. The tower’s operator aims to resume normal operations as soon as possible, but further intermittent strikes could occur if talks continue to stall.
Looking ahead to 2024, SETE plans to revamp the visitor experience with renovated spaces, enhanced historical educational displays and virtual reality offerings. The company predicts annual visitor numbers growing 30% to 10 million by the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Yet striking workers argue proper staffing and infrastructure investments have not matched these lofty projections or accounted for rising costs.
As the landmark scrambles to bounce back from COVID-19 closures, the labor action underscores the complexities of running one of the world’s busiest tourist attractions. While Gustave Eiffel concluded his visionary tower was “forged by the wind”, the winds of change continue gusting from all sides centuries later.
