In São Paulo, public employees have unanimously approved an indefinite strike against a proposed salary readjustment by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB). The decision came during an assembly held on April 16, 2025, in front of the City Council, coinciding with a demonstration that took place in the early afternoon. This strike follows a similar decision made by municipal education employees just a day earlier, on April 15.
The mayor's proposal includes a salary readjustment of only 2.6%, effective from May 2025, followed by a second adjustment of 2.55% in May 2026. This proposed increase falls significantly short of the inflation rate, which, according to the Consumer Price Index of the Municipality of São Paulo (IPC-Fipe), was 5.16% from March 2024 to March 2025.
Public employees are demanding a linear salary adjustment of 12.9% for all civil servants, the elimination of a 14% social security discount on retirees and pensioners, and an increase in the minimum wage for municipal education professionals. The issue is expected to be discussed in the City Council next week, although no specific date has been announced.
Iralene Araújo, a public servant in the cultural sector, expressed her discontent with the proposed salary increase, labeling it as a “joke.” She highlighted the disparity between the proposed adjustment for public servants and the 46% salary increase that Mayor Nunes received in January 2022, which raised his salary from R$ 24,175.55 to R$ 35,462. “If he does not negotiate with the workers, the situation will only escalate because people feel disrespected and undervalued,” she stated.
Priscila Pereira, a nurse in the municipal health surveillance sector, echoed these sentiments, stating that the proposed adjustment is “much lower than the inflation rate.” She criticized the mayor for ignoring the demands of public employees and insisted that the strike is a necessary measure to pressure for a fairer salary adjustment. “We are not even asking for a raise; we just want our salaries to be adjusted according to inflation,” Pereira said.
Further criticism came from Vanda Souza Lima, a municipal teacher who was recently reassigned due to health issues. She described the mayor’s proposed adjustment as a “disregard” for the realities faced by public employees. “Talking about such a percentage is ridiculous when inflation rates show much higher values,” she remarked.
Another anonymous teacher from the municipal early childhood education sector added to the criticism, emphasizing that the mayor's claims of increases are misleading. “We need better working conditions, such as climate control in schools, which are currently very hot. Last year, we were even questioned for asking for cold water for teachers,” she said, highlighting the lack of basic facilities in schools.
In early April, public employees had already staged demonstrations and strikes following yet another failed negotiation with the city regarding their demands for a 12.9% salary adjustment, the cessation of the 14% deduction from pensions, and the incorporation of bonuses into the education career structure.
Meanwhile, the political climate in São Paulo has been further strained by the recent death of Ngagne Mbaye, a 34-year-old Senegalese street vendor, during a police operation. Deputy Guilherme Boulos (PSol-SP) has filed a complaint with the State Public Ministry against the municipality and Mayor Nunes, calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mbaye's death.
The incident occurred on April 11, 2025, during a police approach linked to the “Delegated Operation,” a program designed to control street vendors and illegal traders in the city. According to reports, Mbaye was shot after reacting to police attempts to seize his merchandise. He was selling leather flip-flops in downtown São Paulo and sent the money he earned back to his family in Senegal.
Boulos emphasized the need for accountability in the police's actions, which he described as part of a troubling pattern of violence during the Delegated Operation. “Given the unacceptable episodes of police violence that have repeatedly occurred under the so-called ‘Delegated Operation,’ under the command and direction of the São Paulo City Hall, which incurs expenses of R$ 1 million per day, we request that the State Public Ministry conduct an investigation to determine the responsibilities of the São Paulo City Hall in the murder of Ngagne Mbaye,” he stated.
He criticized the high costs associated with the operation, contrasting them with what he described as the amateurish and irresponsible conduct of the police involved. Boulos's call for investigation reflects broader concerns about police practices and accountability in the city, particularly in operations targeting marginalized communities.
As the public employees' strike progresses and the investigation into Mbaye's death unfolds, tensions in São Paulo continue to rise, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue between city officials and the public sector workforce.
