TNOB director: There's no conflict at the Opera

Valeria Seican, director of the National Opera and Ballet Theater (TNOB) “Maria Biesu”, says that the situation at the Opera and the protests of employees aren’t related to an internal conflict, but are a cry of desperation. The artists protest because of the low wages and this issue must be solved by the Parliament, Info-Prim Neo reports. Valeria Seican stated on Wednesday at the meeting of the parliamentary Commission on Culture and Education that because of the difficult economic situation in 2009, the Government reduced allocations for five national institutions, including TNOB, which caused the artists’ wages to drop. Until 2009, the average monthly wage was 2900-3200 lei and now it is 2700 lei. The Theater has 610 employees. “The situation demands support from the Legislative for this institution because in 2012 we received only 16.2 million lei, while we need 22 million only for wages and 4.5 million for maintenance”, said Valeria Seican. The urgent needs for 2013 are estimated at 28 million lei. “We have financing from abroad, we have financing from good-hearted people who want to help. But in the current conditions, we are requesting increased attention as regards the budgetary financing”, said Valeria Seican. Since the end of August, several tens of artists of the National Opera and Ballet Theater “Maria Biesu” have been protesting periodically outside the Government building unhappy with their low wages. They complain that their salaries halved since the appointment of director Valeria Seican.