PUC Minas professors dispute scholarship suspensions

Professors at PUC Minas are facing the unilateral suspension of study scholarships, according to the Minas Gerais Teachers' Union (Sinpro Minas). The union claims the institution and its maintaining body, Sociedade Mineira de Cultura, are using the benefits as leverage during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Sinpro Minas argues that the scholarships were distributed in February while the previous collective agreement was fully in effect and should remain valid for the entire year. Although a court injunction initially ordered the reinstatement of the benefits, the university successfully obtained a writ of mandamus that overturned the decision, leaving professors without the aid.

A recent conciliation hearing failed to reach an agreement, as the university reportedly presented no proposal to resolve the issue. The union has characterized the university's stance as intransigent and authoritarian.