Striking civil servants hold a wake for the mayor.
The employees in the Health and Education sectors of the municipality of Palmeira dos Índios remain on strike this Friday (16) and continue to occupy the headquarters of the Municipal Government, where they hold a symbolic wake for Mayor James Ribeiro (PSDB). They have been on strike for more than a month and complain about the lack of negotiation.
Alagoas247 According to the president of the Alagoas Education Workers Union (Sinteal) in Palmeira dos Índios, Vânia Calheiros, the main demands of the category concern the application of the minimum wage and the realignment of the career path, but they also ask for more democratic management from the municipality. According to the employees, attempts to negotiate with the city hall have been ongoing since 2010, without any success. "Until now they haven't called anyone to talk, they've only asked us to leave the city hall," Vânia emphasized.
Health workers are also demanding better working conditions, a fixed schedule for salary payments, and reform of the Career and Salary Plan (PCCs). According to the union, the health sector has not received a salary adjustment in three years, information denied by Mayor James Ribeiro.
“We don’t have the most basic working conditions. The Family Health Units operate in highly precarious conditions: there is a lack of doctors, basic and continuous-use medications. There is a lack of office supplies for the health professionals' procedures. The sterilization equipment is broken, several units don’t even have water, resulting in dental professionals going to the units and not being able to work,” lamented one of the striking workers.
In the area of Education, they highlight that the network is dilapidated and that the schools are in terrible condition, making it impossible for professionals to work. In total, the municipal public education network has approximately 12 students. In some schools, according to Vânia Calheiros, classes are taking place, taught by contracted teachers. In others, classes have been suspended since the beginning of the strike.
The symbolic wake for Mayor James Ribeiro has been taking place since last Wednesday at the City Hall, in the hall where the gallery of former mayors is located.
Mayor James Ribeiro stated that the strike is politically motivated and that 95% of education workers have already returned to work. According to him, dialogue with the groups has been suspended since the city hall was occupied.
"I met with the city employees several times, but we suspended the dialogue because of this invasion of the City Hall building, as it demonstrates that they have lost respect for the institution. The movement has lost legitimacy. They are demanding salary improvements, but the City of Palmeira pays better than the private sector. We have nurses who receive more than R$ 5 and all teachers receive above the national minimum wage," the mayor emphasized.
According to him, last year the municipality granted an 18% salary increase to education employees. "The strike has already fizzled out. What remains today is a group of 50 people, some of them from Maceió, who are participating in the movement. Most services have already been resumed," said James Ribeiro. The mayor also stated that the court ordered the municipal employees to leave the premises this morning.
With gazetaweb.com