Luxury department store La Samaritaine in Paris was closed during the height of Christmas sales on Thursday after protesters stormed the department store's sales floor demanding higher wages for its employees, writes WWD.
Protesters affiliated with the General Confederation of Labor, or CGT, entered the department store on the morning of December 22 as soon as the store opened, prompting shoppers to evacuate "for security reasons."
In a video posted to Twitter, protesters can be seen pushing past department store security to enter the store, chanting and waving the union flag. About 200 protesters wearing the union's signature red vests entered the store, breaking down the front door to demand higher wages and standing next to displays of luxury goods. “The symbol of the class clash is huge, a luxury store whose products are not available to employees working there,” the syndical organization said after the protest. The store was closed for the rest of the day.
Restaurant La Samaritaine reopened on Friday morning during regular business hours.
Representatives of La Samaritaine said that mandatory annual wage negotiations will begin in early January, as scheduled in a collective agreement signed with representative unions.
The iconic Left Bank department store, operated by the DFS division of luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, opened in June 2021 after a €750 million renovation. It features over 600 brands.
About 50 La Samaritaine employees went on strike in November to demand higher wages. CGT officials said that many employees receive the minimum wage and a commission structure that remains low. Starting January, store employees must conduct mandatory wage negotiations with store management.
The inflation rate in France in October and November was 6,2%, the highest since 1985. The annual inflation rate is around 6% in 2022, which is lower than in most other European countries.
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