Hungary: EPSU backs culture workers in protest against ending public service status

Solidarity

(14 April 2020) EPSU has today sent a letter to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Minister for Human Resources, Miklós Kásler, to protest over government plans to change the legal status of culture workers – those working in museums, libraries, archives and public cultural institutes.

This is a group of workers, organised by EPSU affiliates KKDSz, who have been campaigning for years for an end to low pay across the sector. Now they are faced by the prospect of allowing their public service status which at least provides them with some protection against dismissal.

EPSU general secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan has objected strongly (see letter below) to the Hungarian government using this emergency period to implement permanent changes to these workers’ employment rights. He has also expressed concern about the attempt to carry out a token process of consultation by sending the union the draft legislation on the evening before the Easter holiday and demanding a response by early this morning.

EPSU sends it solidarity to the KKDSz and will be following up the issue with the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament.

Hungary

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