SOS USP!: In Defense of the Public University
Para: Professors and PhD Candidates
Professors and non-academic staff have been on strike at the University of São Paulo (USP) since May 27 in response to a 0% salary increase offer by the University Rector that signifies a 7% salary cut due to inflation. Professors and staff also demand the opening of the books of the institution since the Rector has claimed that the largest public university in South America is in a grave financial crisis. The strikers also demand a thorough democratic reform of the administrative and political structures of the university.
Since the beginning of the strike, the Rector has proposed radical plans in the press that aim to dismantle the university: reduction of the number of professors dedicated full-time to teaching and research and a “voluntary” retirement plan for 2,800 non-academic staff particularly affecting those with the most experience and years of service. Hiring to replace retired professors has been suspended. Moreover, the Rector has drastically cut student scholarships and funding for research. Research institutes have had their activities reduced or interrupted and international exchanges have been ceased in many cases.
To fully understand the gravity of the situation, two important university hospitals, linked to teaching and research, have been seriously threatened. The Rector has proposed that they be transferred from the university to the state health system without any reasonable academic justification.
Other attitudes of the Rectory, such as the repression of strikers and the failure to dialogue with the university community or even with parliamentary representatives from various political parties, has provoked an administrative and political crisis without precedent at the university. Professors and non-academic staff are very apprehensive about the future of their students, research, careers and the university as a whole.
At this grave moment, we, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the professors, staff and students of the University of São Paulo in their struggle to stop the destruction of Brazil’s first, largest and most important public teaching and research university.
