Striking Out in Paris

Anyone who has ever lived in or visited Paris has likely encountered la grève—what we Americans call a “strike.” Now, in the U.S., strikes are fairly rare. There may be one strike every few years in places like New York City. But in Paris, strikes come and go like cold fronts.

My very first visit in Paris ended with a brief strike at the airport. I can’t remember if it was baggage handlers or maintenance workers, or even the people that cleaned the airplanes between flights, but they decided to go on a strike an hour before my flight was to take off. Two hours later, the strike ended and we boarded the plane.

I’ve been at restaurants when the waiters went on strike as soon as my plat was delivered to my table. I’ve had to hoof it a pied during several transportation strikes. I’ve (fortunately) missed garbage strikes and pharmacist strikes, but I’ve been present for strikes that cancelled opera and ballet performances, and more museums than I can count.

The strike du jour in Paris is by museum workers who are rattled by the possibility of reductions in museum staffing over the course of the next decade by replacing only half of retiring workers. Seems a bit silly to Americans who have witnessed (or been victims of) massive corporate layoffs.

But things work a little differently in a country where most people are assured of normal work weeks, affordable (and non-exclusive) health care, child care, maternity leave and funds for retirement.

A museum strike, to most Parisians, is barely noticed, but visitors are definitely feeling the impact, especially those who’ve traveled overseas. The Louvre is one of the most popular museums in the world, with millions of people lining up to see treasures like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. So there’s bound to be some disappointment amongst travelers.

Of course, most of the city’s best treasures can be found outside the museums—and I’m not just talking about landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. The artwork found in Paris’ churches and cathedrals easily rivals that of the Louvre. A stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Tuileries reveal magnificent statues and sculptures. Don’t even get me started on the magnificence found in places like Père Lachaise, the Marais, the Bois de Boulogne.

So, if you happen to be visiting Paris, I say get out there an enjoy all that the city has to offer outside the museums. There’s plenty to see—more than enough to keep you busy for your entire stay. And just be grateful it’s the museum workers who are striking…and not the transportation workers.

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