Fair salary for freelance artists
Culture
The total of 400 employees in the independent cultural institutions in the city and state of Salzburg currently earn around two and a half million too little. This gap is to be closed step by step in the coming years under the motto “Fair Pay”.
A corresponding official report in the state capital lists in detail the sectors in which these earnings gaps are particularly large. In the media-film division, the pay was just 64 percent of what is considered a fair salary. Only one out of 39 surveyed facilities in the city and state reaches the fair pay mark.
70 percent salary increase for this year
The official report suggests achieving fair pay for all levels: at least 70 percent this year, then ten percent more each year. By 2025, the pay gap for the approximately 400 people affected should be completely closed.
City of Salzburg will mostly shoot
This requires around 2.5 million euros in the summer. The federal and state governments would have to shoulder around 60 percent, the affected municipalities the rest. Since 26 of the 39 surveyed institutions are in the state capital, the lion’s share of 900,000 euros is incurred here, according to Deputy Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ). “The scheme for this fairer payment was recommended by IG Kultur and adopted by the state of Salzburg with some clarifications and additions. These are based on comparable collective agreements,” says Auinger.
On Thursday, the Fair Pay official report will be discussed in the Culture Committee. But there is still a long way to go before a majority in the municipal council.