argia.eus
INPRIMATU
Working artists
Eneko Olasagasti @enekoOlasagasti 2018ko urtarrilaren 30

These are the words of the Secretary General of the Union of Actors of Madrid, Iñaki Guevara: “The actors are casual workers and, therefore, we have to adapt the laws to achieve the same rights as the rest of the workers.”

His words summarise the spirit of an initiative that has taken place in recent years. It is known as the “Artist’s Statute” and it has that objective: to maintain the same rights as workers, because artists are also workers.

The image of the actors selling the media is, in most cases, related to the red carpet or to the glamour that emanate from similar acts. The image imported at all. And in our environment, the Handia phenomenon expands that picture with the nominations to Goyath (Congratulations, no doubt). But reality has nothing to do with that, nor with our relationship with social security. Within the framework of the General Regime, which was specifically created for us, we are given recognition of the uniqueness of the artists’ regime, but that does not guarantee us the same rights. And the question is precisely that. Push for legal change that brings us closer to the same rights as all workers. The requirements of the Artist's Statute are summarized in three points.

1. Social security reform. Ensure that unemployment benefit, temporary or intermittent benefits are adapted to the reality so that artists can complete their working life.
2nd Tax reform. Being able to distribute the earned in different income statements in one year, to take into account that the salaries of an artist, like his work, are variable and intermittent.
3. Reform of the trade union model. Artists, like all other workers, should be able to hold union elections, and trade unions should be able to be admitted as more representative trade union organisations in the sector.

In order to carry out all this, in the spring of last year at the Congress of the Deputies in Madrid a subcommittee led by Podemos was set up. On social networks, we have seen a video of a meeting of this committee, in which the four main Spanish parties coincide with the initiative. Another question is what the route is going to be, although they all agree on the basis. Neither the PNV nor EH Bildu are shown in the video. Bearing in mind that the competence of Social Security remains in the hands of Madrid, it would not be bad if the artists of the Basque Country were represented in the committee through these two parties. Maybe yes, even if they don't appear in the video.

In fact, it will come to Congress in the spring of 2018 for debate and debate. Artists are therefore workers and we want the same rights. Let's see.