Eiffel Tower Operator Says Staff Strike Has ended, Site To Reopen Tomorrow

The Eiffel Tower will reopen on Sunday after a five-day strike, following an agreement between the tower’s operator, SETE, and staff unions.

The protest, which demanded greater investment and was the second in two months, caused the site to miss 100,000 visitors. SETE has apologized for the inconvenience.

As part of the deal, a joint committee will review SETE’s business and investment plans every six months. Furthermore, both parties have committed to a 380 million euro investment by 2031 for maintenance and renovations, aiming to achieve financial stability by 2025.

The landmark suffered a 120 million euro deficit during the 2020-2021 Covid pandemic, with visitor numbers largely rebounding since then.

Unions however argue that the recent 60 million euro recapitalization is insufficient for necessary upkeep, such as repainting, a task undertaken 19 times since the tower's creation by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair.