Eiffel Tower closes as workers go on strike over management and pay

Tourists have voiced their disappointment over the closure of the Eiffel Tower as its workers held a strike to call for a review of financial management by the Paris City Hall. 

Early on Monday morning (local time), visitors stood outside the barriers of the tower grounds in front of a giant screen announcing the closure. 

A sign was posted at the entrance in English, saying: "Due to a strike, the Eiffel Tower is closed. We apologise."

The hugely popular 330-metre landmark in central Paris has seen soaring visitor numbers in the lead-up to the Summer Olympics in the French capital.

Visits to the landmark will also be interrupted on Tuesday as well. 

"We're a little disappointed but we understand that people deserve a fair wage and they deserve proper working conditions," said Marisa Solis, an American tourist, visiting from New York City.

Stephane Dieu of the CGT union, which represents a large number of the Eiffel Tower’s employees, said Monday's strike is aimed at a salary increase in proportion to the incoming revenue from ticket sales and improved maintenance of the monument, which is owned by the Paris municipality.

Union leaders have criticised the Eiffel Tower operator's business model, saying it's based on an inflated estimate of future visitor numbers, maintenance cost expenses and employees' work compensation.

"They are giving priority to short-term benefits over long-term conservation of the monument and the well-being of the company we are working for," Mr Dieu said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Eiffel Tower picket line on Monday.

Union members also said the City Hall, which owns 99 per cent of Eiffel Tower operator Sete's capital, is underestimating the cost of works on the monument planned ahead of the Games.

This would result in lax maintenance work to the detriment of visitors, and put a heavier workload on workers.

Tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Monday were warned of disruptions in multiple languages on its website.

Visitors were advised to check the website before heading to the monument or to postpone their trip.

Electronic ticket owners were told to check their inboxes beforehand.

The Eiffel Tower is typically open 365 days a year.

Monday’s closure is the second in two months due to strikes.

In December, it was closed to visitors for an entire day during Christmas and New Year's holidays because of a strike over contract negotiations.