Teachers in the state education system of Minas Gerais started a strike on Wednesday, following the government's announcement of a 5.4% salary increase, which the teachers' union, Sind-UTE/MG, deems insufficient. The union has emphasized that the requested salary adjustment should exceed this percentage due to significant losses incurred under Governor Zema's administration. They claim that the state owes its educators a cumulative 41.83% in salary losses from 2019 to 2025, attributed to periods of reduced or unpaid wages.

The state government responded by highlighting its commitment to fiscal responsibility since taking office in 2019, stating that the reorganization of public finances and regularization of salary payments for servers have been key priorities. It assures that substantial salary increases were implemented in previous years, such as a 10.06% adjustment for all executive branch workers in 2022 and an additional 4.62% increase planned for 2024, as well as the timely payment of the 13th salary.

This strike reflects deeper tensions in negotiations between the state teachers and the government, as the educators' demands are rooted in ongoing grievances about wage stagnation and the difficulty many teachers face because of the rising cost of living without corresponding salary increases. The outcome of this strike could have significant implications for the education sector in Minas Gerais and potentially impact future negotiations between the government and public sector workers.