Public employees at strike in Belem

Public employees at strike in Belem

We heard about the strike first time at the Sunday marked in Belem.  And we have heard about the closed public schools. Wednesday morning we meet with Mrs. Fatima – one of the speakers from the Sunday marked manifestation.

The strike is about the salary and it involves teachers, health care workers and other groups of public employees. She explains, that one of the problems is, that no public employee can survive unless you have 2 or 3 jobs. She herself has a full time job as educator in the health sector and a part time job as nurse.  All together she earns about 740 R$ pr. month – equivalent to 370 US$. And furthermore, prices have raised 20 % within the last 2 years without any wage compensation.

Mrs. Fatima has no clear idea of the result of the strike, but she knows that State Government needs to take action, because it is no longer possible to live a decent life as public servant. And also private employees suffer from underpayment. The only beneficiary of development seems to be the very rich people.