Paris museums face strike disruption
Louvre, Versailles and Musée d'Orsay could join Pompidou Centre, which has been closed to the public for nine days
MUSEUMS, libraries and theatres in Paris including the Louvre and the Château de Versailles could be hit by strike action today as staff protest against budget cuts and non-replacement of departing staff.
The Pompidou Centre has been closed for nine days running. Staff there want the culture ministry to scrap a policy to only replace half of workers when they leave.
The tourist attraction, which opened in 1977, employs a large number of over-50s who are nearing retirement age.
The walkout is likely to be extended today to other cultural centres in the capital that come under the ministry's control, including the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Château de Versailles.
A Louvre spokesman said it would not be known until later this morning what effect the strike will have on visitors. A spokeswoman at the Musée d'Orsay said staff were in a meeting with management this morning and more information would be available from 10.30.
The last big strike at the Pompidou Centre was in 2006, when an 11-day strike ended with a deal to create an extra 65 jobs.
Photo:Guillaume Cattiaux
