Elizabeth Nunez, a 23-year-old operational assistant at the school, earns nine euros more than the minimum wage and went on strike this Monday, demanding that her salary last more than “the first ten days of the month.”
Elizabeth Nunez is the face of thousands of workers who keep schools running every day. “We are telephone operators, porters, canteen workers, nurses… We are versatile people,” a 47-year-old woman who has already worked in schools for half her life gave an example.
“I have been working in this group for 23 years and I earn a little more than the minimum wage,” said an operations assistant at Escola EB2/3 dos Olivais in Lisbon, explaining that “a little more” was nine euros.
The National Union of Education Workers (Sinape) estimates that there are more than 35,000 operational assistants in schools across the country, and about 90% of them are at the first stage level, like Elizabete Nunez.
Being in the first tier means that after discounts they will take home 606.23 euros, according to Sinape general secretary Francisco Pinto: “These are people who work, but they are poor.”
“I have had the same salary for more than 20 years, but everything is more expensive: food is more expensive, house rent is more expensive. My salary is only enough for the first ten days of the month,” the employee complains in the reports. to Lusu.
Sister Elizabeth also worked as an operations assistant at a school in Lisbon and decided to emigrate. “Today she lives much better,” assured Elizabete, who is not leaving because her father is sick and needs support.
“Even a primary school student can do these calculations. You can’t live on such salaries,” he said.
Francisco Pinto says there are many stories like Elizabete’s throughout the country, which is why school officials decided to stop today to “attract the attention of the political authorities and parties.”
On the eve of the presentation of the state budget to Parliament, Sinapé once again warned about the low salaries of non-teaching workers: after the introduction of discounts, most operational assistants receive only 606.23 euros, technical assistants of the 1st level receive 683.43 euros. and senior technicians – 918.68 euros, said Francisco Pinto.
The union’s first estimate put strike participation at 65% this Monday morning.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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