Eiffel Tower reopens after strike over gender-based staff instructions

The Eiffel Tower reopened on Tuesday, a day after being shut by a strike that highlighted a dispute over gender-based instructions during a private visit. The closure came after management reportedly told female employees they should not be in contact with a delegation from the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide Hindu religious and civic organisation, which was visiting the monument on Saturday.

Diane Davoine, a union official with the CGT, described the instructions as "unacceptable," noting that staff are usually happy to accommodate special delegations, including heads of state and celebrities. The anger, she said, grew among workers over the weekend.

BAPS, which has been holding celebrations in Paris to mark the inauguration of a traditional Hindu stone temple, issued a statement on Monday night offering "sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation." The group said it is committed to "universal values of mutual respect and service to others" and takes the concerns raised "very seriously."

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said on social media that he would launch an investigation, asserting that gender equality must apply everywhere and to everyone, including at historic monuments.

The company operating the 330-metre tower, which draws around 7 million visitors annually, did not immediately comment. This was not the first such disruption; the tower was closed for six days in February 2024 due to a strike over maintenance and pay.