At least 700 policemen took over the Police Station in Posadas, Misiones Capital city, as they claimed for better working conditions and a salary hike. Likewise, the policemen requested to be allowed to unionize their men.
More than 700 police officers -including retired officers and fire fighters- have taken over the premises of the Comando Radioeléctrico located at the intersection of Uruguay and Trincheras avenue. Outside the building dozens of relatives of the protestor camped and spent the night raising protest chants.
The protest started last night at 11pm when a group of 300 policemen broke into the Police Station claiming a salary hike as well to lift the suspensions issued to seven officers for having tried to unionize the force. As the night went on, officers from all over the province started to arrive to join the measure. This morning protestors were close to 700.
Judge César Yaya visited the headquarters along with Misiones Security Under-secretary Julio Lezken, and Chief Police Benjamín Roa.
Afterwards, Yaya tried to minimize the conflict, “It’s not a big protest. I haven´t seen too many officers inside”, when new protesters were arriving from different provincial police and fire stations.
Meanwhile, Lazken explained that a salary hike “depends on the national collective bargaining talks”, and emphasized that “sanctions to officers won’t be lifted.”
Protestors are claiming for a salary floor of 2,000 pesos, the lift of all sanctions issued as well the possibility of creating a police provincial union, new uniforms and equipment, and seniority.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald