The 1,5% salary adjustment for professors and technical-administrative employees proposed by the Council of Rectors of São Paulo State Universities (Cruesp) is below the expectations of the categories, but represents an important financial effort on the part of the institutions. The explanation comes from the rector of Unicamp, professor Marcelo Knobel. According to the director, the financial advisors of USP, Unesp and Unicamp were unanimous in recommending that no recovery index be granted, given the worrying budgetary situation of the universities. “However, the rectors made the political decision to propose 1,5%. It is an increase below what was demanded, but it is what the current situation allows and which is in line with the precepts of responsibility for public management”, he explains.
According to Knobel, Cruesp's position represents a bet by the rectors on a possible recovery of the Brazilian economy in the near future. “If this does not happen, university budgets will certainly be put under even more pressure. Although there are comments that the adjustment would have been 'negligible', it is important to clarify what it represents for the institutions' accounts. In the case of Unicamp, 1,5% on a salary bill of R$170 million is equivalent to an additional expense of R$2,5 million per month. At the end of a year, considering salary, 13th salary and vacation bonus, the amount rises to something around R$26,5 million, which is very significant”, analyzes the dean.
Knobel recalls that the University's budget deficit for 2018 is expected to reach around R$240 million, and that the current Administration has made a huge management effort to reduce it. The results began to appear, but expenses continue to be well above income, given that the country's economic growth is not yet sustainable. “If the economy does not improve, we will have to consume the strategic reserves that we still have left. Therefore, our commitment has been to promote the recovery of Unicamp's financial balance, to avoid an even more complicated scenario. We are aware that teachers and technical-administrative employees need to recover the salary losses accumulated over the last few years, but we ask for everyone's understanding in the delicate moment we are facing”, ponders the dean.
Following the example recorded in the note released by Cruesp, Knobel reaffirmed Unicamp's willingness to make all possible efforts to recover salaries for the categories, as soon as economic conditions allow. “This is a commitment that we will not stray from,” she assures.
