For nearly a decade now, artists, archaeologists, museum workers, employees in ‎libraries and the state archive have received some of the lowest wages, bordering ‎on the minimum wage of the country. Since 2015, when there was the last ‎significant increase in this area, the budget for the maintenance of cultural ‎institutions was reduced at the expense of the costs of maintaining the buildings.‎

‎"Throughout the years, we have been insisting on a more dignified remuneration ‎for the employees in libraries, museums, galleries, in the Bulgarian National ‎Radio, in state archives, in the musical and performing arts”, explains Kiril ‎Binev, chairman of Culture National Fund with the Union, in an interview for ‎Radio Bulgaria. “Unfortunately, we always remain unheard by those in power, ‎which is extremely insulting and disrespectful. The de facto rising minimum ‎wage is starting to catch up to the wages of people in the culture sector once ‎again. These are experts who, for 20-30 years, have given all their efforts and ‎energy to protect their work”.‎

In addition to rising inflation, the obligations of those working in the cultural ‎sphere are constantly increasing, at the expense of people who are retiring or ‎leaving. And the minimum increases of 5-10% cannot compensate for the ‎additional work:‎

‎"This is a very big problem”, points out Kiril Binev. "It is precisely the low ‎wages that lead to very high turnover. A part of the people move into the field of ‎education, that's why our main request is equalization of rewards between the ‎culture and education sectors, because we believe that people engaged in culture ‎perform no less worthy and socially responsible work. There is another thing - ‎the misunderstood reform, which implies only a reduction in numbers, as the ‎same volume of work, even more, is performed by much fewer people. This ‎means a greater workload for them, and in fact wages do not have such growth ‎in relation to the work put in. Therefore, they are left with a great sense of ‎bitterness, of being underrated and misunderstood, and the explanations they are ‎given are utterly ridiculous."‎

The usual excuses of those in power with the budget deficit and the lack of ‎sufficient revenues in the state treasury can hardly be accepted as valid arguments ‎when the salaries of MPs and people in high positions do not stop growing. And ‎instead of giving due credit for the work of scientific workers and employees in ‎cultural institutions, finance ministers have allowed themselves to use ‎disparaging definitions referring to them as to "elders from the Holy Synod" and ‎‎"people wiping dust all day long": ‎

‎"It is extremely insulting when they start to "scientifically" explain to us with ‎ Harvard textbooks how can they not allocate some 9 million BGN for the National Radio or only another 10 million BGN for the state archive or ‎‎11 million for the libraries”, emphasizes Kiril Binev. “At the same time, after a ‎protest by farmers, and I'm not saying it wasn't fair, suddenly 63 million BGN ‎was found from somewhere the very next day.".‎

‎Let's not forget how a prime minister used to go in his jeep and give away ‎millions. We may not have excavators and tractors, but we will close cultural ‎institutions with books. Let someone dare to step of the book and go inside."‎

‎"This is just a prelude. Much more serious protests will follow," workers in the ‎cultural circles state firmly, as they are ready to undertake strike actions, in the ‎hope of gaining the support of the society as well. That's why they have chosen ‎this date in particular – November 1, the Day of National Enlightenment ‎Leaders,, to remind us that this is not just a day when state leaders have to bow ‎in front of the monument of Cyril and Methodius. ‎

‎"Let us pay our respects to the spiritual awakeners of the past, but also think ‎about those living in the present. We will fight for it", concludes Kiril Binev.‎

Photos: Podkrepa Confederation of Labour