INSS strike starts with low adherence

The national strike of INSS (National Social Security Institute) servers, which began this Wednesday (23) had adhesion and smaller impacts than expected by unionists.

Even in the 15 states that officially adhered to the call of Fenasps (National Federation of Unions of Workers in Health, Work, Welfare and Social Assistance), some agencies of the institute continue to function normally.

Since the beginning of March, civil servants and unions have been organizing public acts and occasional strikes, demanding a 19.9% ​​salary readjustment to compensate for the inflation losses of the last three years, shelving the administrative reform and revoking the spending ceiling.

According to Fenasps, only servants from Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Roraima, Acre, Amapá, Paraíba and Mato Grosso did not join the mobilization.

The Folha report visited some INSS agencies in the capital of São Paulo and in only one, in the Santa Cruz neighborhood unit (south zone), there was a partial shutdown of the servers in the morning, without prejudice to the service.

Banker Fernando Russo, 38, had an inspection scheduled at the Vila Mariana branch, south of the city of São Paulo, this Wednesday morning (23). Even with the strike notices on the news, he attended the agency. He says that, in addition to being attended, the experience was even better than on previous occasions, when he had to wait longer.

15 days ago, Russo had gone to another agency and was not seen, as there was a lack of servers, in addition to the expert doctor who was supposed to do the exam. He says that this Wednesday, without the same climate of strike and stoppage that he faced a few days ago, in another agency. “I was served quickly and had a lot of servers actually.”

Medical experts are not part of the same category as INSS servers, so they didn’t stop. They just stated that they support the movement, but without joining the strike. In February, there was a stoppage of the category, but the Justice ordered the return to work.

The INSS workers started a strike this Wednesday, but since March 3 they have been in “Operation Excellence” in São Paulo, in which they only do basic work, without hitting 80% of the goals and no longer perform overtime or extra services.

Sinnsp, the union of the category in São Paulo, says that 75% of the servers are working remotely, and, for the strike, they are not turning on computers or accessing the INSS systems. The strategy is called “Operation Blackout”.

In addition to the readjustment, requests for new public tenders are also on the agenda, as there is a shortage of servers at the institute, which contributes to the long lines. The strikers also criticize the INSS systems, which they consider obsolete, and the institute’s budget cuts, which reached R$1 billion in 2021. They also call for the professionalization of the Social Security career, management changes, telework, health and day care assistance , and food stamps.

Sought, the INSS did not comment on the stoppage, requests from servers and the queue of care until the publication of this text.

Service can be done remotely

Many services for INSS retirees and pensioners can be done online through the Meu INSS app or website.

To use the system, you must register an account on the Gov.br Portal. The initial registration of the password guarantees the insured level bronze. If you want access to more features on the portal, you should raise your account security level to silver or gold.

After creating the access, download the Meu INSS app or access the website. Whenever you make a request, the system will ask you to update your contact details. Provide phone numbers, address and email. This is important to receive INSS notices. In the system, it is possible to request, retirement, pension and BPC (Benefit of Continued Benefit), in addition to scheduling expertise for sick pay.

Expert guidance

Diego Cherulli, vice president of the IBDP (Brazilian Institute of Social Security Law), gives the following recommendations:

1. Go to the branch, as not all servers will join and there are chances of service, even with a longer delay than usual
2. If the branch is closed, photograph the information that will likely be on the door as proof that you attended
3. If there are servers, but they deny service, request a certificate of attendance and the rescheduling of the procedure
4. Call 135 to get a redial request protocol number

According to Rômulo Saraiva, a lawyer specializing in social security law and a columnist for Folha, the strike opens up the possibility for the insured to file a lawsuit in court for granting or reviewing the benefit without having to wait for the INSS’s administrative response period.

As a rule, this period ranges from 45 to 60 days, but it is suspended during stoppages, he says.