Europe · updated 2h ago · 2 min read
Eiffel Tower Closes After Staff Strike Over Women Moved During BAPS Visit
Eiffel Tower closed after staff strike over removal of female workers during BAPS delegation visit Around 100 people linked to BAPS visited the tower; opening delayed for operational reasons
12 outlets, one story, no spin found.
10 of 12 outlets skipped it: eiffel Tower operator head Ariel Weil said operator would draw conclusions.
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Eiffel Tower Protest
The Eiffel Tower in Paris was closed on Monday after staff went on strike over instructions to move female employees away from their posts during a private visit by a Hindu religious group, with the tower expected to reopen on Tuesday.
“As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places”
A delegation of about 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the Paris landmark on Saturday, and staff said women were told to be moved so men could take their places.
Reuters quoted union representative Diane Davoine saying, "As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places," and the BBC reported that staff said women were removed for the visit.
Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), the company operating the monument, confirmed the delegation had asked the visit be arranged to limit "interactions with women," and SETE president Ariel Weil said, "I restate the Eiffel Tower's commitment to republican values and to the equality of men and women."
Politicians Weigh In
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said there would be an investigation into the circumstances of the visit, and he wrote on X that he was aware of employees’ anger and that their dissatisfaction was legitimate.
The BBC reported that Grégoire said, "Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments, nor anywhere else in this city," while the Reuters account said he called for "an investigation would be launched" as soon as possible.
Equality Minister Aurore Berge said women in France should not be asked to "erase themselves," and the BBC reported that Yaël Braun-Pivet refused to allow women to be compelled to step aside.
BAPS said the trip was arranged at the start of normal opening hours to avoid disrupting others, and Reuters quoted its statement that "To the best of our knowledge, at no point was anyone prevented access to the Eiffel Tower."
What’s at Stake Next
The dispute forced the Eiffel Tower to remain closed all day on Monday after staff held a meeting over the incident, with Reuters saying the monument was closed late on Monday as employees met.
“the monument was closed late on Monday as employees held a meeting over the incident”
The BBC reported that staff said they were "shocked" by the exclusion of female employees and that they decided to ensure that women are never treated this way at the company again.
SETE acknowledged that the delegation had requested the visit be organised to limit "interactions with women" and told AFP that "these conditions should not have been accepted," while the BBC also quoted SETE’s position that the conditions were not in line with its values.
In parallel, the incident drew political condemnation, including Marine Le Pen saying, "In France, we will never accept that the presence of women be 'limited'," and Gabriel Attal saying, "In France, no culture, no belief, no religion, nothing and no one can come and dictate to women what their place should be."