Professors from the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG), basic education teachers and trade unionists gathered in front of the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais (ALMG) on the afternoon of this Wednesday (8/5) in a protest for better salaries and against increase in Ipsemg rates and the dismantling of the public service. In the cries of protest, the main target was the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), who last week sent ALMG a bill that readjusts the salaries of all public servants by 3.62%. This percentage was criticized by trade unionists, especially because it was below last year’s inflation, whose IPCA was 4.52%.
Protesters even printed photos of the governor and placed them on dolls, with the words “Minas is for sale”. On the sound car, unionists shouted that it was “unacceptable that Minas Gerais education continues to be scrapped, with the extinction of positions and jobs, and that professionals do not receive the minimum salary.”
Education officials released an open letter against the proposed adjustment by the government of Minas Gerais
Leandro Couri/EM/DAPRESS
In an open letter to the population, the Minas Gerais Education Workers’ Union (SindUTE), present at the demonstration, stated that the text sent by the governor highlights the “devaluation faced by educators, but also highlights non-compliance with the legislation that governs salary policy for the category”. “The Zema government fails to comply with the legislation and requires us to act on different fronts of struggle. Therefore, it is imperative that each and every one of us actively contribute to this battle, strengthening and increasing our capacity to confront the excesses of the Zema government. After all, Our fight is not about proportionality, it is about dignity”, says the text.
On April 29, employees of the state’s public forces also protested against the governor’s actions, in the Administrative City, seat of the state government. In the end, the protesters closed MG-10, which connects the capital to BH Airport, in Confins. On Monday (6/4), Zema said in an interview with Rádio Jovem Pan that anyone who thinks that the public sector in the state does not pay well can pursue a career in the private sector. “If someone thinks the public sector doesn’t pay as well, they can pursue a career in the private sector,” he said. The governor had been asked whether it is possible to change the “culture” of “always extracting a little more”, which a “official elite” maintains.
In conversation with the State of Minas, state deputy Lohanna (PV-MG), member of the Education Commission, said that she “completely” understands the importance of this demonstration. “It is essential to support these demands to guarantee the quality of education and protect workers’ rights, after all, the Zema government is known for its history of attacks on public education and employees in the area”, said the state deputy.
The president of the Labor Committee at ALMG, deputy Betão (PT-MG), went so far as to say that, if the situation of public servants of various categories is unsustainable, that of UEMG workers, on strike, is even more so. “They haven’t had an adjustment for decades, they don’t have a career plan, nor an operating infrastructure. And it’s important to say that the adjustment that Zema sent to the Assembly, of 3.62%, doesn’t even come close to the value of inflation and isn’t even close , includes the minimum wage value of just over 33%”, he stated.
Ipsemg
Also last week, Zema sent two bills that deal with civil servants’ contributions to the State Servants’ Pension Institute (Ipsemg). If approved, individual contributions can increase by up to 81.8%.
The government argues that the proposal aims to expand the network’s service capacity, modernize and optimize the institute’s service provision. However, public service workers claim that the adjustment penalizes the categories. Currently, Ipsemg has 825 thousand beneficiaries across the state.
O State of Minas contacted the state government but received no response.
