In accordance with Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Law on Strikes and Article 57 of the Special Collective Agreement for Cultural Institutions founded by the Republic, of Serbia, the Autonomous Province, and local self-government units, the majority of employees at the Belgrade Philharmonic have decided to go on strike, effective as of March 3, 2025.

As stipulated by the law, the strike committee formally notified the employer and submitted the decision five days in advance, on February 24, 2025.

The strike is being organized with specific demands regarding two key issues: an immediate improvement in employees’ financial conditions, as outlined in the current regulation on salary coefficients, as well as the prompt, transparent opening of the call for the process of selection of the director of the Belgrade Philharmonic, in full compliance with the official recruitment protocol. The strike will continue until a mutual agreement is reached between the involved parties or until a majority of employees vote and decide to end it.

Reasons for the strike and justification of demands:

1. Immediate improvement of employees’ financial conditions through an exemption from the current salary coefficient regulation and reinstatement of a special salary regulation for the Belgrade Philharmonic. The Belgrade Philharmonic is the only orchestra that is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia that operates solely as an orchestral ensemble.

For the core orchestral musicians (tutti musicians), who make up the majority group within the Philharmonic Orchestra, we demand a minimum salary equivalent to the national average, which, according to the latest publicly available data from the Statistical Office of Serbia (November 2024), amounts to 100,738 RSD net.

Additionally, we request the unification of all tutti musicians into a single category by aligning the Job Classification Catalog with the Salary Coefficient Regulation.

2. Immediate and transparent launch of the selection process for the position of the Belgrade Philharmonic’s director, ensuring full compliance with the official recruitment protocol.

Since the strike will only end through mutual agreement or a majority decision by employees, all upcoming concerts of the Belgrade Philharmonic are canceled until further notice, starting with the scheduled performance on March 7, 2025, at Kolarac Hall.

For ticket refund inquiries, please contact the Philharmonic’s box office at +381 11 2630 744 or via email at karte@bgf.co.rs.