Dean Marcelo Knobel received leaders from the Unicamp Workers' Union (STU) to discuss the category's agenda of demands, in a meeting held this Monday morning (26) and transmitted directly via the Rectory's Web Camera. The STU's main demand is that the 3,5% increase in the constitutional ceiling of the State of São Paulo, approved by the Legislative Assembly (Alesp), be extended to all University workers.
Regarding the 3,5% more in the ceiling, the rector emphasized that it is not a salary increase, but a reduction in the cut imposed by the constitutional ceiling. The salary cap at public universities in São Paulo corresponds to the value of the subsidy granted to the governor, unlike what happens at federal universities, which follow the subsidy of a minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). “What we have are hundreds of civil servants who had their careers cut short by an arbitrary constitutional ceiling,” he said. “Each person who dedicated 30, 40 years to the University has a salary reduction and, when this ceiling is increased or decreased, the salary is adapted”, he added.
Presenting growth rates in ICMS collection in the second half of 2017 and in the first two months of this year, as well as a reduction in the weight of payroll in the budget, the STU also called for the creation and application of a salary fund, which would be 25% of the nominal growth in revenue was allocated, month by month, which would currently total around R$18 million, when compared to the worst year of the crisis, which was 2016.
Marcelo Knobel sought to consider that, despite the good news brought by the numbers showing an improvement in the economy and ICMS collection, Unicamp's situation remains critical. “Expenses are not limited to payroll, if it reaches 90%, 93%, it doesn’t mean you have money. The University still spends more than it receives every month. We have the cost to consider. The increase in revenue is interesting for the moment, however, what happens if it eventually falls? We have improved the situation, we have taken a series of cost containment measures and we are heading towards balance, but we are still a long way from that.”
The rector stated that Unicamp's financial reserve, which reached R$1,4 billion and had fallen to R$715 million when this administration took over, is now at R$550 million. “This means that we are consuming the reserve, both for payroll and for costs. First, this spending needs to decrease and then remain stable, in order to promote wage recovery with our feet on the ground." Still at this Monday's meeting, a technical meeting was scheduled with the STU to clarify the budget data, which should take place next week.
