Paris –
Visitors were denied access to the Eiffel Tower on Monday in a strike against poor financial management of the world’s most visited tower.
A sign in English was posted at the entrance that read, “Due to the strike, the Eiffel Tower is closed. We apologize.”
The hugely popular 330-meter (1,083-foot) landmark in central Paris is seeing a surge in visitor numbers in the lead-up to the Summer Olympics in the French capital.
Tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Monday were warned of disruption on a website in multiple languages. Visitors were advised to check the website before heading to the monument or postpone their trip. E-ticket holders were instructed to check their inboxes in advance.
The landmark’s operator also said on its website that visits to the Eiffel Tower would be suspended on Tuesday.
Marisa Solis, an American tourist visiting Paris from New York City, said: “It’s a bit disappointing, but I understand that people are entitled to a fair wage and have a right to decent working conditions.” ” he said.
The Eiffel Tower is usually open year-round. Monday’s closure due to a strike is the second time in the past two months. In December, a strike over contract negotiations led to an all-day closure over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Morgan McKechnie, an American living in Germany, was in Paris to celebrate her birthday and decided to enter the landmark on Monday after exploring the city in all directions over the weekend.
“I’m very, very disappointed to know that I won’t be able to come to the tower today,” McKenney said. She added: “Thank you to the workers who want to preserve this tower for hundreds of years to come.”
Stéphane Dieu of the CGT trade union, which represents many of the Eiffel Tower’s employees, said Monday’s strike was aimed at increasing salaries proportional to revenue from ticket sales and improving maintenance of the monument, which is owned by the city of Paris. said. .
Union leaders have criticized the Eiffel Tower’s business model as being based on inflated estimates of future visitor numbers, maintenance costs and employee compensation.
“They are putting short-term profits ahead of the long-term preservation of the monument and the well-being of the companies we work for,” Dew said in an interview with The Associated Press on the Eiffel Tower picket line on Monday. Told.
———-
Associated Press video journalist Florent Bajrami in Paris contributed.