Louvre staff strike over overcrowding and safety, following a $102M jewel theft exposing security flaws.

Workers at the Louvre Museum in Paris are launching a rolling strike demanding more staff and better management of severe overcrowding, following a high-profile theft of $102 million in crown jewels on October 19. The strike, supported by a broad range of employees including curators and scientists, could result in partial museum access rather than full closure. The heist exposed significant security flaws, including only one working camera, inadequate monitoring, and delayed police response, with intruders accessing the site via a ladder through a previously flagged weak point. Staff cite longstanding issues such as understaffing, deteriorating infrastructure, water leaks, and unsafe conditions, while the museum’s leadership faces mounting pressure over safety and management failures.