A n agreement with members of the trade unions has been reached after several long days of negotiations which kept the Eiffel Tower closed for five days due to a labor dispute, according to this announcement composed in French from La Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel — also known as SETE, which is the operation and management company of the Eiffel Tower with greater than 300 employees.
Eiffel Tower Open Again After Being Closed for Five Days Due to Strike
The Eiffel Tower was thus reopened to the public at approximately noon today, Sunday, December 18, 2016, due to a vote earlier this morning for employees to return to work.
Roughly translated — yes, I do know some French — the announcement proclaimed that “The many visitors to Paris will once again be able to visit the Eiffel Tower, discover its fabulous views of Paris, and enjoy the famous ice rink on the first floor for the end of the year celebrations.”
The trade unions wanted workers to be included in the decision-making process — as well as more funds to be directed to the maintenance of the site.
About La Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel
The City of Paris entrusted La Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel as part of a ten-year public service delegation as of Sunday, January 1, 2006. La Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel is a local public company whose capital is 60 percent owned by the City of Paris; and its turnover for the year 2015 is € 81.8 million. It is chaired by Bernard Gaudillère — who is the counselor of Paris — and directed by Anne Yannic.
Summary
Paris has been attempting to revive its tourist industry in the wake of such deterrents to visitors as polluted air, significant floods, violent labor protests, and deadly attacks — such as this one on Friday, November 13, 2015, the result of which at least 130 people were killed and 368 others were injured.
I have been to the Eiffel Tower several times over the years and have always appreciated it as a work of art — not to mention the views of Paris which can be enjoyed at the top of the famous monument.
Included in this article are a few photographs showing my appreciation for this structure — originally created as the entrance for the 1889 World’s Fair and named after its chief engineer, Gustave Eiffel.
That the Eiffel Tower is once again open every day of the year to visitors is great news; and if you have not yet visited this world-renowned symbol of Paris, you owe it to yourself to experience it in person.
All photographs ©2008 by Brian Cohen.
