USP Technical-Administrative Staff End Strike After Rectory Agreement

Background: The Spark of Inequality in Compensation

The strike was ignited by the approval of the Gratificação por Atividades Complementares Estratégicas dos Docentes (GAACED or Gace), a monthly bonus of up to R$4,500 exclusively for professors who submit approved projects in strategic areas. Announced in late March 2026, this initiative aimed to stimulate research but excluded the roughly 13,000 technical-administrative servers essential for USP's daily operations—from lab technicians and librarians to IT support and maintenance crews.

These servers, who form the backbone of USP's functionality, saw the bonus as a breach of isonomia (pay equity), especially given salaries frozen since 2012 amid cumulative inflation losses of about 14.5%. USP's professor starting salary stands at around R$16,300 for full-time roles, while administrative staff earn significantly less, often topping out below R$10,000 depending on seniority and category. The perceived favoritism fueled demands for a fixed R$1,200 salary hike, abono for holiday 'bridge' days, and better mobility for outsourced workers.

This grievance echoes national trends in Brazil's public universities, where federal and state institutions face chronic underfunding. USP, as São Paulo's flagship state university with over 100,000 students across campuses in the capital, Ribeirão Preto, and São Carlos, symbolizes these struggles.

Timeline of the Strike and Negotiations

The sequence unfolded rapidly:

• April 9: Sintusp assembly unanimously approves strike.
• April 14: Official start, coinciding with student mobilizations; joint marches from Praça do Relógio to Avenida Paulista draw thousands.
• April 17-22: Initial reitoria proposal rejected; servers demand guarantees, amplify calls including student pautas.
• April 23: Assembly accepts revised offer; accord signed by reitoria coordinators and Sintusp.
• April 24: Reitoria revokes controversial minuta on student spaces; working group announced.
• Ongoing: Servers phase return; students vote on continuation.

Participation was robust, halting services across USP's three main campi, affecting labs, libraries, and administrative functions critical to research output—USP ranks among Latin America's top universities globally.

Key Terms of the Historic Agreement

The accord addresses core demands:

• Gratificação Program: GAACED extended to servers, up to R$1,600 monthly (R$238 million annually divided among staff), tied to professor project pots, formalized via COP and CLR commissions respecting electoral laws.
• Abono Study: Legal review for waiving hours during holiday bridges and year-end recess, presented June Copert meeting.
• No Retaliation: Immunity for strikers; frequency regularization.
• Outsourced Equity: Internal free transport system study for third-party workers.

Sintusp hailed it as a 'conquest,' though some criticized leadership for haste. Reitoria emphasized fiscal constraints under state budget limits.

Photo by Joao Viegas on Unsplash

Student Strike Persists: Demands for Permanência and Services

While servers return, students from 15+ faculties (Filosofia, Arquitetura, Enfermagem, etc.) remain on strike since April 14. Motives include:

• Bolsa increases to minimum wage (current ~R$700 inadequate amid inflation).
• Moradia expansion; water shortages reported.
• RU improvements—complaints of spoiled food in university restaurants.
• Space regularization without eviction threats (reitoria's revoked minuta sparked fears).

DCE-Livre coordinates; April 28 reitoria meeting planned with working group. Joint staff-student actions underscored unity against 'elitist' policies.

Impacts on USP Operations and Research

The 10-day halt disrupted labs, delaying experiments; libraries closed, hindering theses; admin backups piled up. USP's 2025 research output (top in Brazil per Scopus) risked lags, vital for funding.

Classes minimally affected due to professor non-strike, but student paralysations hit 105 courses. Economic cost: potential R$millions in lost productivity, underscoring servers' role—USP's 100k students rely on them for everything from IT to facilities.

Salary Context in Brazilian Higher Education

Brazil's public unis suffer salary stagnation. Federal professors average R$20k+, admins R$8-15k; USP state-funded, similar disparities. Inflation since 2017 eroded ~40% purchasing power. Unificada campaign seeks 2012 recovery + fixed hikes.

Recent federal strikes (50+ unis) mirror USP; states like SP lag. GAACED aimed incentivize profs amid brain drain, but sparked equity row.

Labor Dynamics at USP and Beyond

Sintusp's militancy reflects Adusp/Andes ties; reitoria under Governor Tarcísio pressure balances budgets. Agreement sets precedent for isonomia, potentially influencing Unicamp, Unesp.

Challenges persist: outsourced growth (cheaper but precarious), gender pay gaps, burnout.

Photo by Fabián Vega on Unsplash

Future Outlook and Broader Implications

Implementation hinges on commissions; student resolution key to normalcy. Success could model dialogue in strained sector.

For Brazil's higher ed: highlights equity needs amid funding woes (USP budget ~R$7bi 2026). Attracts talent? Reforms vital vs private unis offering competitive pay.

Positive: Demonstrates negotiation efficacy, preserving USP's global rank (QS top 100 Latin America).

Lessons for Stability in University Labor Relations

Brazilian unis must prioritize holistic compensation, integrate admins in incentives. Policymakers: Tie funding to equity. USP's case: Strike pressure yields gains, but prevention via transparent talks better.

Stakeholders eye federal negotiations; USP trailblazer?