In a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as well as the Ministry of Culture, the Panhellenic Federation of Performing Arts, representing all artists’ unions, rejects the memorandum of understanding published by the government regarding their demands.

Among other things, the artists characterize the EP, which is legally weaker and more subordinate than the Law or the Decree of the President.

The full text of the announcement follows.

Letter to the Deputy Minister of Contemporary Culture, Mr. Nikolaos Jatromanolakis

Notice: Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Late in the evening on Friday, February 17, the draft of the EP was made public by the Ministry of Culture. Unfortunately, with this project, which does not respond to our requests, the government once again shows that it does not want to provide a solution to existing problems. We clarify that the Prime Minister, at our meeting last Wednesday 15/2, committed to legislative regulation, not KYA. KYA is legally weaker and subordinate to the law or presidential decree.

According to the Ministry of Defense, P.D. 85/22 is not changed and therefore we remain in the secondary education (DE) category. What has been announced is the salary and the only approximation to the TE salary. However, this creates a paradox that artists, teaching staff and allied professions are being hired as TEs. We believe that more problems will be created in this way than the one that this initiative of the Ministry of the Interior is trying to solve.

This MLA does not classify us into a new occupational category (nor can it because it is not a statutory regulation) as we remain in the DE category (by Presidential Decree 85/2022) as the eligibility requirements are described there. Also, with KYA, there is an attempt to christen the work as “artwork” for everyone who is hired for the work. We do not understand the reason to list “a work of art (K.E)” in this way, when it is not a legally established professional category. Everything that is being done with this report is deliberately confusing public opinion.

Therefore, we do not have recognition for our research and our degree. This KYA does not in the least satisfy the requirements of our struggle, which, after all, is to recognize our artistic research through our classification in the TE category.

As a result of the above, we continue to fight for a fair professional assessment of our degrees and a decent education and work. By no means are we asking for a revision of Article 16 of the Constitution. We demand, within the provisions of Article 16, recognition by classifying and including all art school graduates and workers in the arts and culture in the TE category. (except for those already categorized as F.E.), what is being done and has already been done in many other cases.

Of course, our demands for the creation of a state higher art education and a unified state art education at all levels, as well as for strengthening the student body with the benefits of free food, housing and books, remain active along with the entire field of our demands. .

Our two-month mobilizations, the collective resignation of the teaching staff of the three theater schools, occupations and strikes are about something much more than 179 euros, they are about our dignity, the provision of our studies and our status as professionals. The announcement only about the establishment of the School of Performing Arts in 2025 does not meet the current requirements and can only be perceived as another election announcement.

On Friday, February 17, we have completed exactly two months since the issuance of the Presidential Decree and ended our unconstitutionality and opposition to European Union law lawsuit by filing an application to quash the Presidential Decree. 85/2022 (Government Gazette 232/vol. a/17-12-2022) to the Council of the Territory.

Cancellation request is submitted and accepted:

Panhellenic Federation of Listening Shows

Union of Greek Actors

Union of Greek Singers

Society of Greek Directors

Association of Dramatic Arts Educators

Union of Greek Film and Television Professionals – Audiovisual Sector

Under Stage Professional Performers Association

Association of Independent Cinematographers and Audiovisual Workers of Northern Greece

Union of Musicians-Servants of the Municipality of Athens

Musicians Association of Northern Greece

KTHBE Association of workers of all types of personnel,

Greek Dance School Owners Association

Panhellenic Association of Alumni of Conservatories and Schools of Music

Union of National Theater Workers

Union of Lyrical Heroes of Greece

Union of Theater, Entertainment and Culture Workers

Union of Dance Teachers

Union of Dance Hall Workers

“To you who are listening to us”, we clearly declare that we vigorously continue the righteous struggle we started on December 17th. We have emphasized from the outset that the tombstone placed by the government in front of our demands will be lifted together by industry and the student community, with the support of a society that understands our needs and supports us.