Why are Eiffel Tower workers on strike?
France's iconic Eiffel Tower stands silent today as workers go on strike, leaving visitors disappointed with a 'closed' sign.
The dispute? Financial mismanagement and demands for a better future plan.
#EiffelTower #Paris #Strike
The dispute? Financial mismanagement and demands for a better future plan.
#EiffelTower #Paris #Strike
Transcript
00:00 The Eiffel Tower is the most visited landmark in all of Paris.
00:04 On average, 20,000 people visit every single day.
00:07 But for the thousands that showed up here on Monday,
00:11 they were greeted by a close sign.
00:13 And that is because the staff of the tower are striking,
00:16 protesting what they claim is financial mismanagement.
00:21 At issue here is a plan by the city of Paris,
00:24 which owns a 99% stake in the tower's operator,
00:28 to increase the annual operating costs from $17 million to $54 million.
00:34 And the unions say that the plan overestimates the number of visitors
00:38 expected at the monument and underestimates how much money it's
00:43 going to cost for construction and repairs ahead of the 2024 Olympics,
00:47 which is expected to bring a lot more visitors to the city and the Eiffel
00:51 Tower.
00:51 But the unions say not enough to meet the targets that underpin this plan.
00:57 This is now the second time in as many months that workers have gone on strike.
01:01 And the last time in December, they warned that the Eiffel Tower may not even be
01:05 open for the Olympics because of a shortfall in the construction budget.
01:10 This is a strike that is lasting one day, but
01:13 there is an option to renew it, which means it could last much longer.