The University Council (Consu) of Unicamp approved this Tuesday afternoon (3), in a meeting that continued the session of last September 26th, suspended due to the invasion of the Consu building by a group of students, the cut linear rate of 30% on the values of all unincorporated bonuses paid to professors, researchers and employees of the University. The councilors also approved the creation of a Working Group (GT) that will suggest measures that contribute to promoting a spending cut of around R$25 million in 2018, which corresponds to around 10% of the projected budget deficit.
During the session, the Consu also decided to remove from the agenda the item that proposed the adjustment of the value of the meal offered by university restaurants, which would go from R$2 to R$4 for students without need. Under the proposal, needy students would continue to receive exemption and employees who receive salaries above R$5 would have an increase in the value of their meal of R$3, which would go from R$7 to R$10. For low-income employees existing subsidies would continue. Breakfast would, according to the proposal removed from the agenda, go from R$ 1 to R$ 2 reais.
The issue of adjusting meals will be analyzed by the GT, which will have one month to complete the work. One of the proposals put forward by the Central Administration for evaluation by the Group, whose composition is yet to be defined, is the creation of 500 food grants to serve students in need who do not yet have this benefit.
While Consu members deliberated on the day's agenda, students gathered in front of the body's building. They protested against the possible increase in the price of meals. Rector Marcelo Knobel considered the Council's decisions correct and highlighted that the students' behavior occurred within normality and respect for Unicamp's democratic traditions.
According to Knobel, the containment measures approved and under discussion will not solve the University's budget deficit problem, but will help the institution to maintain its main activities. “We will continue working to resolve the budget issue. We have been talking to the State government, state deputies and the Department of Health, with the aim of seeking to balance Unicamp's accounts. One aspect that we have highlighted is that the University's health area, which is fundamental for a region with a population of 5 million people, is underfunded and needs more resources”, pointed out the rector.
