Statement to the Press and the Public

STATEMENT TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC

Workers employed in the fields of culture and art in our country face precarious employment conditions, inadequate wages, and the loss of their rights. These problems have long been awaiting resolution.

Contracted artists, despite years of service to state institutions, have not been granted permanent civil servant status, their social benefits have been restricted, and they have been left without job security. This problem persists across many institutions, most notably the State Theatres, State Opera and Ballet, and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra.

Personnel under the 4B status are compelled to work with far lower wages and rights compared to their permanently employed counterparts, despite performing the same work. This situation is in clear violation of the equality principle enshrined in the Constitution and of ILO conventions.

Pressure on the exercise of union rights also continues to be a serious problem. Our members are subjected to mobbing on account of their union membership, their career advancement is obstructed, and attempts are made to intimidate them through various sanctions.

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

— Immediate conversion of all contracted artists to permanent positions — Equalization of wages and social benefits for 4B personnel with those of permanently employed staff — An end to union suppression and mobbing — Increase of the culture budget and improvement of the working conditions of cultural workers

We will continue every form of legal and democratic struggle necessary to bring these demands to fruition.

Cultural Workers' Union