São Paulo Teachers Reject 3.51% Raise as Strike Continues

A second council vote next week could lock in a 3.51% raise that unions call insufficient and harmful to hiring rules.

Overview

Municipal education workers voted to keep their strike after rejecting City Hall’s 3.51% pay offer during a union assembly this week.
The proposal, filed as PL 354/2026, splits the raise into 2% now and 1.48% in May 2027, with the city saying it could advance the second part to late 2026 if the budget allows.
The City Council passed the bill in a first vote, a final vote is expected next week, and the administration estimates the plan would add more than R$1 billion a year to payroll.
A state court order from May 5 requires schools to keep at least 70% of staff working during the strike, and the city says it will dock pay for unjustified absences.
Unions seek a 5.4% update to the teacher pay floor and 14.56% broader increases, argue PL 354 expands temporary hiring and weakens competitive exams, and plan new protests at City Hall next week.