THE Olympics were plunged into further chaos on the day before the opening ceremony as staff at the IOC’s five-star went on strike.
The International Olympic Committee are already sweating on the Games.
That comes as concerns over the cleanliness and safety of the River Seine have threatened to wreck the triathlon and marathon swimming events and the ongoing risk of a terror attack in Paris.
There is also the saga surrounding Team GB medal hopeful Charlotte Dujardin, who pulled out of the Games in disgrace as a video of her whipping a horse was released.
And the fears surrounding the French workers going on strike has been a constant worry for organisers.
Now, they appear to have become a reality – with a video seemingly revealing the staff at the IOC’s luxury hotel refusing to work on the eve of the Paris Olympics officially opening.
The clip, posted by French union group Ud Cgt Paris on X, shows 11 employees lined up on either side of the corridor at the prestigious Hotel du Collectionneur including managers, technicians and chefs during breakfast time on Thursday morning.
They are chanting “Rendez-nous le treizieme mois” – translated as “give us back our 13th month” a reference to salary bonuses – repeatedly while some hold up flags and others homemade banners.
Translated from French into English, they read: “You touched our contracts.”
Another said: “No 13th month, no Olympics.”
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A third stated: “Give us back our social assets.”
And a final placard raged: “Luxury hotel, poverty wages.”
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Paris 2024 Olympics – Day -1
Women’s handball and archery gets underway today while the Rugby sevens continues with some quarter-final action.
Spain, Brazil and Germany are all in action in the women’s football as well.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
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The Ud Gct Paris then explained the reason for the strike action with a thread on social media.
It said: “We can’t wait for the workers of the world to discover our French way of striking.
“Workers of the luxury hotel where the International Olympic Committee is staying in Paris are going on strike today for a salary increase.
“The boss of the Hotel du Collectionneur gave 9.5 million euros (£8million) of dividends to the shareholders in 2024. And has not increased salaries for seven years.
“The IOC is paying 22 million euros (£18.5m) to stay at the Hotel during the Olympic Games in Paris. 22 million, and zero to the workers, everything to the owners.
“Salary negotiations started in June with our union CGT. Unfortunately, the boss doesn’t want to listen to the workers and share the benefits of the hotel.
“So today, after the fifth negotiation meeting that took place yesterday, the cooks, waiters, technicians etc. decided to start a strike.
“They are so right to do so, the Hotel du Collectionneur must stop to block the negotiation.
“We are only humble French workers and unionists, trying to speak to our fellow workers and unionists all over the world.”
SunSport has contacted the IOC for comment.
