As part of its fieldwork

As part of our union's fieldwork, and with the aim of producing on-the-spot solutions to the chronic problems of culture and art workers and strengthening the organised struggle, we held a comprehensive exchange of views with representatives of the Diyarbakır State Theatre and the Diyarbakır State Classical Turkish Music and Civilisations Choir Directorate. The main topics of the meetings and our concrete demands are reported below. The most fundamental agenda item was the loss of rights arising from the failure to reflect the across-the-board raise in "incentives and bonuses". Our members were given detailed information about the ongoing court case our union has filed on this matter. Our demand is the inclusion of the across-the-board raise in all supplementary payments and in pension contributions. It was stressed that, in the current situation, public awareness and support through every institutional mechanism are needed so that the case filed by our legal unit can set a precedent. The grade and step disputes (intibak crises) experienced by colleagues within the institution who moved from 4B status to permanent positions were put on the table, and all developments in the process were conveyed. The issues addressed included: past service periods not being counted in full towards grade/step; the pay gap caused by annual seniority not being reflected in salaries; and the redress of retroactive losses. In the consultations with the Civilisations Choir, the logistical difficulties the ensemble faces in carrying out its artistic activities and the uncertainties in its artists' personnel rights were discussed, and it was emphasised that the choir's contribution to social peace must not be allowed to falter. Our demand for a "flat tax rate" was raised once again, against the real income loss artists suffer in the second half of the year as their salaries enter the 27% and 35% tax brackets.

At this event, where we also attended the premiere of the Diyarbakır State Theatre's children's play Alacalı Şemsiye, the awareness and common stance of our workers on all these issues gave us hope. With determination until results are won Kültür Emek-Sen