Ibama employees threaten to strike to secure nominations

The scenario of non-appointment of superintendents from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) in the states may pose yet another problem for the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). In addition to pressure from the political wing, civil servants are already giving indications of a strike.

“There are some states that are having civil servants mobilized against the indications [políticas]. There is an indication of a strike in some states. Just the lack of nominations is not an indication, but there are a series of issues that are on the table, including nominations”, said the president of the National Association of Environmental Specialist Career Servers and PECMA (National Ascema), Cleberson Sheep Zavaski.

After 8 months since the beginning of the Lula government, the scenario of little expression of the ministry is added to the fact that there are at least 10 superintendencies that only have interim superintendents in charge of the functions. According to Zavaski, the civil servants want the appointment of someone who has, at least, technical and managerial knowledge, but so far the positions are serving as a “counter” and pressure for the appointment of political allies.

“There are good names among those already appointed by political indication, however, in the positions that still need to be appointed, we value the appointment of public servants”, he said.

Still according to the president of Ascema, the Federal District and the states of Santa Catarina and Paraná would be the federation units with an indication of strike by Ibama employees.

“One of the focuses is the indication of the superintendence of Paraná, which has the name of a non-technical person”, said Zavaski. In Paraná, the choice mobilized the agency’s civil servants’ association, which issued a letter to demonstrate its opposition to the nomination. In the official letter, the servants highlight the ordinance published by Ibama in March, which defined the desirable professional profile for the occupation of positions in the agency. Among the requirements required for superintendents are: four years’ experience in areas linked to Ibama’s activities; position of trust in the government for four years; title of specialist, master or doctor in areas linked to Ibama’s activities; or leadership courses of at least 120 hours.