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Original article: Trabajadores de las Culturas se declaran en estado de alerta ante recortes del Gobierno

Workers rejected the budget cut of over 3% and warned that this measure will directly affect services provided to the public.

On April 1st, union organizations from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage (Mincap) declared a national alert through a public statement. This decision was made in response to the fiscal adjustment policies of José Kast’s government and recent comments by Minister Francisco Undurraga, who justified cuts to programs deemed essential by workers for social welfare and community safety.

Jorge González San Martín, national president of ANFUCULTURA, confirmed that this defensive stance extends from Arica to Magallanes, urging the minister to reconsider his words and actions, stating, «We are committed public servants.» He also highlighted the precarious situation already faced by the ministry, which has the third-lowest budget among all government departments in the country.

Meanwhile, Alejandra Cerda, president of ANFUPATRIMONIO, called on authorities to reflect on how the reduction in resources will adversely affect the operations of the Heritage Service. In this regard, she urged the minister to emphasize the significance of public service and its crucial role in national development, warning that the cuts will limit public access to cultural memory and identity.

From the National Association of Cultural Workers (Anatrap), president Margarita Hormazábal described the cut as an «arbitrary and unconsulted» measure that jeopardizes the ministry’s functionality. She demanded a collaborative and binding effort, stating that inadequate funding and staffing threaten the continuity of services that the state must permanently guarantee for all Chileans.

Additionally, the Workers’ Front firmly rejected the notion of a «bankrupt state,» labeling it a false and irresponsible claim, even questioned by the Comptroller’s Office. They also pointed out that the more than 50% cut in funding for memorial sites reveals an ideological intent to dismantle systems dedicated to promoting and defending human rights.

Union concerns have been exacerbated by reports of threats and announcements of new layoffs by officials via media channels. They lamented that the minister prefers to communicate via the screen rather than engage in direct dialogue with organizations, overlooking their legal right to participate in decisions affecting their job stability.

Thus, workers invited Minister Undurraga to understand the realities faced by museums, libraries, and archives currently contending with severe infrastructural issues and a lack of basic resources. The national alert ultimately aims to protect creative freedom and competitive funding, asserting that investment in culture is not a luxury or excessive expense but rather a guarantee of high-quality services for national development.

Read the complete statement:

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