Taubaté Hospital Staff Strike Over Unpaid July Salaries Amid Contract Dispute

Employees at the Municipal University Hospital of Taubaté (Hmut) initiated a work stoppage on Wednesday, July 8th, demanding payment of their July salaries. According to staff members, all hospital departments are participating in the protest, though patient care continues uninterrupted. The strike occurs as the contract between the Taubaté City Hall and Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Chavantes, the current hospital management entity, is set to expire on July 31st. Staff reported that their salaries, due by the fifth business day of July, have not yet been paid, and they have received no official timeline for resolution. A striking employee emphasized that the action is a demand for their rightful payment. Departments including nursing, laboratory, kitchen, sterilization, and administration are involved, with staff rotating to ensure continuous coverage for patients. The Taubaté City Hall recently decided not to renew its contract with Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Chavantes, leading to the current management situation. This decision followed disagreements over financial transfers and contract terms. The Chavantes Group stated that the staff's strike is a direct result of financial insecurity caused by the withholding of funds intended for the hospital's operations. They indicated that the monthly management transfer exceeds R$9 million, with payroll costs around R$3 million, but only R$1 million has been deposited so far. Chavantes also claimed that a judicial deposit of approximately R$4.7 million by the City Hall has disrupted the hospital's financial flow. The City Hall, however, stated that there are no outstanding monthly financial transfers for July and that a judicial decision mandated that a portion of the funds be paid directly to a linked legal account for a service provider's lawsuit against Chavantes, with the remainder paid to the organization.