On the Day of People’s Awakeners, Bulgarian cultural figures in Burgas protested against their humiliatingly low salaries.
Organized by NF “Culture” KT “Support”, the protest in our city took place in front of the Burgas State Opera building under the title “Let’s support Bulgarian culture!”.
It included employees of the Burgas State Opera, the Regional History Museum, the P.K. Yavorov Regional Library, as well as all others who recognize the demands.
And they are:
Increase wages in the sector to no less than BGN 2,000 and equalize wages with those working in the “Education” branch;
To increase the budget for culture to 1% of GDP;
To increase the Unified Expenditure Standard for 2024. for a subsidized number of museums, art. galleries, libraries and community centers.
„It is insulting that someone decides that this amount of money, which is paid to the majority of cultural figures, is enough for vegetation. We are not second-hand people, and a country cannot do without culture“, shared Ivaylo Enev, an actor from the Puppet Theater – Burgas.
„We want to clarify and create a cost standard for municipal museums, which are not few in the country. We want to increase the money for the areas available to the museums. Let’s at least start getting closer to teacher salaries. There should be no opposition between industries and until they all stand up together I don’t believe things will change, but it’s important to try. On the Day of People’s Awakeners, I am infinitely grateful to my schools, which taught me to stand up for my rights. All of our wage increases were long eaten up by inflation” said Dr. Plamena Kirova from RIM-Burgas and chairman of the trade union section there.
„Today is not chosen by chance. We can probably do without theater, museums, opera and ballet, but now many students are on vacation and use the opportunity to visit all these institutions, to get acquainted with our past and traditions. Only in this way can we be a cultured and educated nation that can move forward. Without that, we have no future” said Antonia Todorova, regional secretary of KT Podkrepa – Burgas.
