The National Federation of Culture and Media Trade Unions CulturMedia 'firmly' denounces the contempt of the Government for employees in the field of culture, whom it wants to force into a new 'sacrifice curve'.

'It is absolutely outrageous that the Government continues to ignore the real problem of the public budget - the chronic waste, political sinecures, useless boards, parasitic institutions, lack of collection from the 'smart guys' of the Economy - and to unload its impotence exactly on the shoulders of those who work, in harsh and undignified conditions, for a miserable salary,' theNational Federation of Culture and Media Trade Unions CulturMedia conveys on Friday in a press release signed by the organization's president, Georgel Balaci.

According to the cited source, the 'privileged ones' in Culture are archaeologists who risk their health on building sites far from home, in the mud, in the burning sun or in the freezing cold, on building sites that accompany European infrastructure projects, restorers who work with toxic, carcinogenic substances, without adequate equipment, museographers, researchers, archivists, librarians, who live on subsistence wages, even though they take care of this people's national heritage, specialists in rare, niche professions, for which you need years of study, specialization, total dedication.

'And now, for all these people, the Government proposes, with absolute cynicism, a 'bonus' of 300 RON gross, 173 RON net, which should 'replace' the cold, toxicity, lack of conditions, dangers and social mockery in which they have been kept for decades. Shame on them! You ask us why are young people leaving the country? Do you wonder why traditional trades, crafts, heritage specialists are disappearing? The answer is in front of you: because you pay them as unskilled laborers, you trample on their dignity and then ask them to work 'out of passion'. Leave the Culture alone. Do not keep mocking those who keep Romania's memory, history and heritage alive!',' the union underscores.

The CulturMedia Federation argues that if they 'really' want to reform, the government should start 'at the top'.

'Cut the huge benefits of high ranking public servants, special pensions, political sinecures! Dismantle state companies without object of activity, in which the political clientele lives well on the public budget! Reduce the number of ministers, secretaries of state, counselors! That is where austerity must start, not from the poor apparel of those who have already lost hope! Reduce the number of parliamentarians, as you have been promising for years!,' conveys the Federation.

The CulturMedia Federation reserves the right to launch all legal forms of protest, up to a general strike, 'if the Government does not understand through dialogue'.

The National Federation of Culture and Media Trade Unions CulturMedia is a representative trade union organization at the level of the cultural sector and brings together over 73 trade unions from museums, libraries, cultural centers, theaters, public radio and public television. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)