Eiffel Tower reopens after five-day strike
Paris's Eiffel Tower reopened on Sunday after a five-day strike by some of its 300 staff.
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Workers voted to return to work at a mass meeting on Sunday following a dispute over an alleged lack of consultation in decision-making by management and plans to repaint the monument.
Among the projects that aroused concern was a proposed paint-stripping and repainting scheme, which unions say poses a health risk because of lead in the paint to be removed.
Six million people visit the Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1889, every year, about 80 percent of them foreign tourists.
Although the number of daily visitors at the beginning of December is only about 6,000, it rises to some 20,000 during the Christmas break, which starts this weekend.
The tower was hit by strike action during June's protests against the Socialist government's controversial labour law.
Photoreport: How the Eiffel Tower changes over a year click here
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