The President of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance met with the scientific and trade union bodies for the protection of our cultural heritage Stefanos Kasselakis accompanied by the Head of Culture Kyriaki Malama. The press representative of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance Dora Avgeri and the coordinator of the Culture Department Jenny Arseni also participated in the meeting.

On the part of the organizations that participated, the Association of Greek Archaeologists, the Association of Extraordinary Archaeologists, the Panhellenic Union of Extraordinary Personnel of the Ministry of Culture, the Unified Association of Employees of the Ministry of Culture of Attica, the Panhellenic Union of Conservators of Antiquities, the Panhellenic Association of Graduate Employees of Higher Technological Education of the Ministry of Culture, the Panhellenic Union of Antiquities Conservation Officers.

In the working meeting, there was a thorough discussion on the structural, institutional and labor issues faced by the people of cultural heritage, while the collective goal of formulating a new proposal for the policies for the protection of the monuments and for the museum policy was also set. Three very critical issues emerged from the discussion. The need to restore the five major museums to the body of the archaeological service, the adequate staffing of the services of the Ministry of Culture, against the logic of the contractors and the restoration of the labor relations of the people who have been working for decades as contractors, with extremely precarious contracts.

In this context, it was agreed in the immediate future that the Culture Sector of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance should submit to a public consultation a proposal for a law for the protection of cultural heritage and for its restoration as a public good, along with shielding the rights of people working in that sector.