The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff went on strike over the treatment of female workers during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation.
Around 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the Paris landmark on Saturday. According to union representative Diane Davoine, female employees were asked to leave their work positions when the delegation arrived.
“During the visit of this delegation, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there,” Davoine told Reuters.
She said management had since apologised to the affected workers. Davoine added that the incident caused anger among employees, particularly the women involved. Further speaking, she said tensions continued through the weekend before staff met on Monday to seek dialogue with management. The workers also wanted assurances that female employees would not be treated in the same manner again.
SETE’s Apology
Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which operates the Eiffel Tower, confirmed that the delegation had requested arrangements designed to limit interactions with women, according to AFP. SETE said those conditions should not have been accepted. The company said the arrangements were inconsistent with its values and with the principle of equality between women and men.
SETE president Ariel Weil described the practice as unacceptable and reaffirmed the monument’s commitment to France’s republican values and gender equality. The controversy has prompted calls for an investigation into how the visit was organised.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said he would investigate the circumstances surrounding the delegation’s visit. He also said the Eiffel Tower employees’ anger was legitimate.
“Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments,” Grégoire said.
BAPS said its visit had been arranged with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours. The organisation said the arrangement was intended to avoid disrupting or inconveniencing other visitors.
In a statement, BAPS apologised for any “pain or inconvenience caused” and said it believed in universal values of mutual respect and service.
The Eiffel Tower remained closed as staff and management faced calls to resolve the dispute.
READ ALSO: https://alo360.net/ratko-mladic-funeral-serbia-eu-condemnation/
