The weak reaction of CNTE and UNE to Lula’s cuts in education

Recognized for traditional acts of protest such as strikes and school occupations, the National Confederation of Workers (CNTE) and the National Union of Students (UNE) presented a different reaction in relation to the cuts in education carried out by the Lula government. The two restricted their dissatisfaction to publications on social networks and public notes, without criticizing the federal government, a very different behavior compared to that carried out in the past, in response to similar measures by former presidents Jair Bolsonaro and Michel Temer.

Since January, the cuts and blockages made in different areas in the budget of the Ministry of Education (MEC) total more than R$448 million. Furthermore, recently Capes, the authority responsible for master’s and doctorate courses in the country, had a cut of R$116 million. Altogether, the blockages represent R$564 million of MEC resources. Even so, the two entities avoided any conflict with the federal government.

On platform X (formerly Twitter), UNE criticized Capes’ budget reductions, but without mentioning the federal government and President Lula. A People’s Gazette did not find any statement from the CNTE on its website or social media about the Capes cut.

The first cut made by the Lula government was in July 2023 and totaled R$332 million. Of the total, R$201 million was foreseen for basic education, R$11.6 million for professional and technological education and R$119 million for higher education. The cuts, however, were practically forgotten by the two entities, who preferred to focus their demonstrations on topics such as the repeal of the new secondary education and compliance with the national education minimum.

In August, UNE took to the streets, but little was seen about the cuts. On social media, coverage was mild with phrases such as “it is necessary to guarantee an adequate budget”, without mentioning the federal government. Meanwhile, the acts in São Paulo showed the faces of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) and Renato Feder, respectively the state’s governor and secretary of education. At the beginning of July, President Lula participated in the UNE congress, where he was acclaimed by those present.

The CNTE also took to the streets in August, following the same line as the UNE: calling for the repeal of the new secondary education and respect for the national teaching floor. In the call release, they state that the act “aims to pressure the Executive and Legislative powers for greater quality in the sector and the valorization of public education and its professionals”. But the reference to the blockade carried out by the MEC was accompanied by justification in a public note, stating that “the CNTE recognizes the effort of the current Government – ​​with the support of the National Congress – to restore the budgets of social areas at the end of 2022”.

Occupations and strikes marked previous governments

Current behavior contrasts with the entities’ actions in the past.

In 2016, while the Expenditure Ceiling PEC was being processed in the National Congress, thousands of schools, institutes and universities were occupied by students, with the support and promotion of UNE and other student entities. For the protesters, there should be no spending limit for the areas of health and education.

During the term of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), numerous acts were carried out by unions. In May 2019, the CNTE organized a protest in the face of an announcement of a 30% block in universities’ discretionary funds, funds that were contingent and partially returned at the end of that year.

The General Education Strike also took place in 2019, but in October. There were demonstrations in several cities across the country with topics even about the privatization of Petrobrás. Unlike now, the slogans were always directed to the president.

In the opposite direction, ANDES criticizes the Lula government

In the demonstrations against the cuts there were unions that were more consistent with their trajectory, such as Andes-SN (National Association of Higher Education Teachers – National Union). “The government continues to contradict speech and practice in social policies”, wrote the group in a note that repudiates the Capes cut. In the text, Andes contrasts the content of a speech by President Lula, about the importance of education, and the news, days later, of the budget blockade.

Among the criticisms, Andes also points to the fiscal framework as an instrument to “reduce resources allocated to essential areas, such as health and education, to the detriment of allocating money to amortize public debt”.