Dozens of universities hit by strikes over academic wages

Academic workers, including many professors, are now on strike at more than 60 federal universities across Brazil. Having faced more than a decade of declining budgets, they are demanding higher wages and more funding to pay for crumbling infrastructure, among other things, writes Jeff Tollefson for Nature.

Now in their fourth week at some institutions, the strikes have halted classes on many campuses, although scientists contacted by Nature say they are maintaining research laboratories and field projects.

The strikes present a major test for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a long-time labour leader who entered office last year and promised to boost funding for science and education. The Lula administration has unlocked new financing for research grants and fellowships and is rolling out a new – and controversial – initiative to coax thousands of Brazilian scientists who have moved abroad to return home. Salaries remain flat, however, and base funding for universities has continued to fall, owing in part, some scientists say, to opposition from conservative politicians in the Brazilian Congress.
Full report on the Nature site