“This is likely to last several days, and we especially hope not to have to strike during the Olympic Games”, warns Denis Vavassori, CGT delegate of the Eiffel Tower Exploitation Company (SETE), which manages the monument. The Iron Lady will not be open for three hundred and sixty-five days in 2024, as usual: between “150 and 200” SETE’s 360 permanent employees went on strike on Monday February 19, causing the monument to be closed.
Already on strike on December 27, the CGT and FO unions denounce in particular the increase in the amount paid each year by this local public company to its majority shareholder (99%), the City of Paris, while its finances have already suffered in recent years. last years.
This is firstly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which increased the periods of closure of the monument, and generated 130 million euros in ticketing losses. In 2023, the tower returned to a suitable level of attendance, with 6.3 million visitors.
Exorbitant costs
The strikers also say they are worried about the state of the monument, despite, again, the exorbitant costs. The tower has not been repainted for fourteen years – compared to the usual seven – and certain works have fallen behind schedule and generated 120 million euros in additional costs, due to inflation and the discovery of lead.
“We barely completed 30% of the painting campaign, it cost 85 million, while the basic budget was 50 million. There is rust, elevators that have not been renovated, the sparkle that will not be renewed…”lists the CGT elected official.
Faced with these difficulties, the company was recapitalized to the tune of 60 million euros by the City of Paris in 2022, and loans were taken out. The trade unionist compares this situation to additional losses to come, which will cause an increase in the fee paid by the SETE to the City of Paris: already increased from 8 to 16 million euros between 2021 and 2022, it should reach approximately 50 million annually for the years to come.
The ticket should increase by 20%
“This represents half of the SETE’s annual budget, while we already have heavy work”sighs Mr. Vavassori. To contain this increase, the ticket price should also increase by 20%.
This continuous increase in the fee had already been planned since 2016. Through their action, the strikers wish to influence the arbitrations contained in the public service delegation, the contract which binds the SETE and the Paris City Hall over the period 2017-2030.
You have 42.62% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.