Statement to the Press and the Public

TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC

Workers in culture and the arts in our country face precarious employment conditions, inadequate wages and losses of rights. These problems have long been awaiting a solution.

Contracted artists, despite having laboured in state institutions for years, have not been granted permanent status; their social rights have been restricted and they have been left without job security. This problem persists in many institutions, above all the State Theatres, the State Opera and Ballet and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra.

Staff in 4B status are forced to work for far lower pay and fewer rights than permanent employees, even though they do the same work. This is plainly contrary to the equality principle of the Constitution and to ILO conventions.

Pressure on the exercise of union rights also remains a serious problem. Our members are subjected to mobbing because of their union membership; their career development is obstructed and attempts are made to intimidate them with various sanctions.

As the Culture Workers' Union, we share the following demands with the public:

— Immediate transfer of all contracted artists to permanent positions — Equalisation of the pay and social rights of 4B staff with permanent staff — An end to union-related pressure and mobbing — An increase in the culture budget and improvement of culture workers' working conditions

We will continue every form of legal and democratic struggle until these demands are realised.

Culture Workers' Union