About 400 employees participated in a meeting where a unanimous decision was made to initiate the strike. The main reasons for the discontent were the deterioration of working conditions and the need for renovation of the museum.
On Monday morning, entry to the museum was closed to visitors, and the Louvre did not open for the entire day.
The following day, Tuesday, is a traditional day off for the museum.
A new staff meeting is expected on Wednesday, where they will discuss the possibility of extending the strike.
In early December, unions sent a letter to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, expressing concern about the state of the building and non-functioning equipment.
Last week, the Culture Minister tasked Philippe Jost, who previously led the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral after the fire, with conducting a "significant reorganization" of the museum.
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