France Eiffel Tower boutiques staff go on strike

Souvenir stores in France’s iconic Eiffel Tower have closed their doors to visitors for the second day due to an ongoing strike by the sales staff.

The strike which entered its second day on Saturday came as CGT trade union spokesman Remi Picaud said that staff push for a 300-euro (USD 367) monthly raise at talks with management.

The union says the strike would be extended to security and restaurant staff working at the monument if the rise for boutique staff fails to realize.

The employees complain about long working hours throughout the week with no additional compensation. The Eiffel Tower is one of France’s top 10 tourist attractions.

France, Europe’s second-biggest economy, is grappling with political and economic crises, which are seen as the worst since President Francois Hollande took power in May 2012.

Austerity measures have put France’s citizens under more financial pressure than ever. Sales and retirement taxes have been raised, while massive cuts to social services have forced households to dip into their own pocket to cover for the government’s absence.