Unions support demands of workers in culture to address their working conditions

The Trade Unions Confederation (KOZ) supports the demands of representatives of the cultural community to address the fundamental problems affecting their working conditions, including the financial underfunding of the sector and the accumulated investment debt, the KOZ said in a statement on Tuesday regarding the situation in the cultural sector.

The trade unionists declared that they are closely following the situation in culture, and they are particularly aware of the impact of the adopted legislation and actions of the Culture Ministry on working conditions in the field of culture and the creative industries. "Workers in culture and cultural institutions across Slovakia are concerned that legislative and personnel changes won't allow them to work in fair, dignified and stable conditions," said KOZ spokesperson Martina Nemethova.

The spokesperson also pointed out that the public and political debate points to a number of problems in the cultural sector. "However, their solution lies in cooperation, not in hatred and division," she stressed.

According to her, the confederation therefore rejects forming of two groups of workers by state officials and bringing about a conflict between them.

In pushing through legitimate demands, the confederation also stressed the importance of collective action, including protests, a strike alert or strike, as important components of democratic principles in labour relations.

Thousands of people protested against the actions of the Culture Ministry on Monday (August 12) in Bratislava. The protest was organised by a civic platform called 'Open Culture' with other cultural organisations. The protesters are demanding the resignation or dismissal of Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova and general secretary of the ministry's service office Lukas Machala, and the rectification of the mistakes that the organisers believe the Culture Ministry has made.

Source: TASR