The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has announced that it will increase the fees of lecturers at music universities with retroactive effect from January 2012.
According to a press release from the German Orchestra Association (DOV), the state was responding to pressure from representatives of teaching staff at conservatoires in NRW, the Federal Conference of Teaching Staff at Conservatoires (bklm) and the German Orchestra Association (DOV), both of which are campaigning for an overdue increase in teaching staff salaries, which in some places have not been adjusted for 20 years.
The DOV is calling on the other federal states to follow this positive example and "finally give up their refusal to adequately remunerate freelance teachers at conservatoires". According to Andreas Bausdorf, Deputy Managing Director of the DOV, demands remain for the 2.7 percent for 2013 that has so far only been verbally promised, as well as for the annual adjustment of fees in line with the development of public sector pay scales.
