Cultural unionists take steps to trigger a general strike

The National Federation of Trade Unions in Culture and Press CulturMedia announced the launch of procedures for consulting employees and collecting the signatures necessary for a possible general strike. According to the trade union organization, approximately 7,500 employees in museums in Romania are affected by the provisions of the draft salary law. "The decision is a direct response to the current form of the draft salary law," reads a press release from the CulturMedia Federation. The trade unionists believe that the draft does not correct the existing salary differences in the museum sector and claim that the execution staff is still disadvantaged in relation to the professional training, responsibilities and importance of the activity carried out.

• Demands regarding salary

The Federation calls for the equalization of the coefficients and salaries of specialized staff in museums with those related to equivalent positions in performance and concert institutions. Among the demands of CulturMedia are also the increase in coefficients for technical, administrative, auxiliary and supervisory personnel, as well as the elimination of salary differences that the unionists consider unjustified between management and executive positions. The organization also demands the immediate resumption of negotiations with the effective participation of representative trade union organizations and requests that the draft law on salaries not be adopted in its current form.

• Unions prepare employee consultation

According to the CulturMedia Federation, affiliated organizations will inform employees, organize their consultation and centralize the signatures necessary to launch a general strike, in compliance with the stages provided for by law. The calendar of actions is to be announced after the completion of legal procedures. The Federation warns that, in the event of a strike, the activity of museums could be significantly affected. Among the consequences listed are the closure of museums, the suspension of exhibitions, guide services and educational activities, as well as the cessation of archaeological research, supervision and diagnostics. According to the unionists, infrastructure works for which archaeological research or unloading is an obligation could also be affected, including some projects financed by the PNRR.

• CulturMedia threatens to notify European institutions

The Federation claims that, if the Government and Parliament do not change the approach regarding the remuneration of museum employees, it will notify the European Commission and other competent European institutions. "Cultural heritage cannot be protected without specialized people,” states CulturMedia, which claims that the activity of museums depends on the work of museographers, researchers, conservators, restorers, archaeologists, museum educators, supervisors, as well as technical, administrative and auxiliary staff. The Federation believes that the lack of specialized staff would affect both the conservation and research of heritage, as well as projects involving archaeological activities.