“This is the moment for professors and researchers to join the fight to defend labour rights and demand better salaries and working conditions in higher education institutions, which have deteriorated in recent decades,” emphasizes the union president, José Moreira, quoted in a statement.

In addition to the government's proposals for the Trabalho XXI labour package, which SNESup says facilitates dismissals, increases precarious employment, and attacks unionism, going against the principles of labour law, the union is using the strike to recall long-standing demands.

Among the main problems, researchers and professors in higher education cite the "sharp and continuous decrease in purchasing power" in recent years, precarious contractual ties, which affect the majority of researchers and visiting professors, and "constant blockages" in career advancement opportunities.

In a statement, the union advocates for updating the salary scales, integrating precarious researchers and visiting professors into their respective career paths, and implementing the staffing regime for teaching and research personnel in private institutions.

Regarding the labour law reform, José Moreira writes that the proposed changes will exacerbate the difficulties already experienced by professionals and accentuate the obstacles to career progression and attractiveness.