Teacher is fired after photo supporting Lula in SC
Teacher is fired after photo supporting Lula in school in SC. Union denounces political persecution and institution justifies decision
A teacher was fired from the Unified College, in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, after appearing in a photograph making the gesture of the “L”, associated with the re-elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The case took place this week and provoked criticism from union entities, which denounce possible political persecution and question the legality of the punishments applied by the educational institution.
The image was recorded on Saturday (7), during a fraternization promoted by the school, and subsequently shared on the personal social network of one of the participants. According to representatives of the category, the publication did not present a visual identification of the school.
In addition to the teacher’s dismissal, nine other professionals who appear in the photograph received disciplinary warnings in writing.
Union criticizes dismissal and points to possible political discrimination
The Syndicate of Teachers of Blumenau and Region (Sinpabre) expressed its rejection of the measures adopted by the institution and defended the right of workers to express their political opinions.
For the entity, freedom of thought and expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by Constituição Federal and cannot be arbitrarily restricted by internal standards of companies or educational institutions.
The union also highlighted that the photograph was taken during a moment of fraternization, without relation to the pedagogical activities and without any evidence of using the classroom to promote partisan positions.
The entity considers it necessary to make a rigorous determination of the circumstances of the dismissal, especially given the possibility that the dismissal was motivated by the political preference of the professional.
School justifies punishments based on internal regiment
In response to the repercussions of the case, the directors of the Unified College, Alexandre Kleis and Castelo Gazzoni, released a video on social networks to explain the position of the institution.
According to the management, the political manifestation recorded in the photograph contradicted the rules provided for in the school regiment.
Gazzoni stated that Article 34, paragraph 5, establishes restrictions on the expression of political-party preferences by officials.
The school maintains that disciplinary measures were adopted because of the non-compliance with these rules and stressed that the position shown by professionals does not represent the institution.
The directors also advocated that educational activities be developed without promoting partisan ideologies within the classrooms.
Rekindles debate on electoral harassment at work
The dismissal of the teacher comes amid the increase in complaints of electoral harassment in Brazil, after the second round of the presidential elections of 2026.
According to the figures released by the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), the number of complaints increased from 1,937, registered until October 25, to 5,637 on Thursday (12). The growth represents 3,700 new records in the period.
Federal government data also pointed to more than 7,000 complaints related to possible electoral harassment practices in the workplace by November 4.
The Minister of Labour, Luiz Marinho, even mentioned the possibility of creating mechanisms to restrict the access of companies involved in these practices to certain lines of public credit.
The Superior Labour Court (TST) and the Public Ministry of Labour have stressed that pressures, threats and dismissals motivated by political preferences can result in employers being held accountable, in accordance with current legislation.
In the case of the Unified College, the discussion involves the boundaries between the application of institutional rules and the protection of individual workers’ rights. The existence of electoral harassment or unlawful discrimination is subject to investigation by the competent authorities. (With information from Agência Brasil)
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