Spanish National Ballet Dancers Denounce Salaries Frozen for 30 Years
The artists from the Spanish National Ballet and the National Dance Company have raised their voices against a situation that has persisted since the 1990s. Both companies, which depend on the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (INAEM), claim that their working conditions are undignified and demand an urgent review from the Ministry of Culture and Sport. Their dedication and the high level of physical demand contrast with the economic precariousness they face. 🩰
A Salary Freeze Measured in Decades
The representatives of the dance companies explain that the collective agreement that regulates their salaries has not been modified since the 1990s. This means their incomes have not evolved to keep pace with the cost of living, a situation especially critical in a profession with short careers and extreme physical wear. Contractual instability and the lack of economic improvements clash with the cultural value of the institutions for which they work.
Key Points of the Denunciation:- Salaries have remained unchanged for approximately thirty years.
- The collective agreement is outdated and does not reflect the current economic reality.
- There is a great disparity between the physical demands of the job and the economic compensation received.
It seems that in the world of Spanish dance, the only thing that doesn't freeze are the dancers' own bodies on stage.
Mobilization to Demand Dignity and Recognition
Facing this situation, the dancers have launched a public campaign to raise awareness of their issue. Their main objective is to sit down to negotiate a new labor agreement that guarantees dignified salaries and substantially improves their conditions. They argue that the State, in its role as employer, must set an example regarding labor rights within the cultural sector.
Main Demands of the Artists:- Review and update the collective agreement immediately.
- Establish dignified salaries that compensate for the short professional life and physical wear.
- Achieve real dialogue with INAEM authorities and the Ministry of Culture.
A Call to Cultural Institutions
The dancers' mobilization seeks to pressure for an effective negotiation table to be opened. They emphasize that the value of their artistic work for the national cultural heritage must correspond to fair labor treatment. The outcome of this conflict could set an important precedent for how dance professionals are treated and valued in Spain. 💃🕺