Security forces begin a protest in Castro Marim

On Tuesday, more than two dozen members of the security forces began a protest for better wage conditions in the Algarve, next to the Castro Marim Police and Customs Cooperation Centre.

The group plans to spend the night next to the Portuguese-Spanish cross-border police center located on the Portuguese bank of the Guadiana River, next to the international bridge connecting the Algarve with Andalusia (Spain), where they prepared a stove for cooking and eating at night, despite the wind and incessant rain that could be felt in the area late in the day, Lusa noted.

Among those present was Luis Matos from the Association of Professional Security Guards (APG-GNR), who informed Lusa that an undetermined number of GNR military personnel, PSP agents and members of the prison guard were expected to attend, as some would leave the protest to go to work and others would attend when their shifts are over.

“We plan to gather as many military personnel, agents and prison guards as possible so that the government and the population at large can see that we are unmotivated and tired of being ignored,” an ANG-GNR spokesman said.

The same source emphasized that the participants in the protest, one of those that took place in the country in recent days, “are not against the judicial police.” [PJ] receive a “risk-based” compensation premium, “they want to be treated equally.”

“We are the first line, the first force of intervention in one of the main pillars – security, and we will not retreat from the protests, we will not give in to the weak side and will support the protests until we are heard,” he assured.

Luis Matos gave the example of a GNA soldier at the beginning of his career, assuring that “the motivation is low” because he receives “a salary of 998 or 1050 euros per month” and can be stationed in an area outside his territory. residence.

“Many of us have families, we are displaced, and when we are displaced, we have to pay bills on both sides, and what we get is not enough,” he said, stressing that those far from home “spending half their salary on a house or a third on a room” and is in a difficult situation to reach the end of the month.

One soldier present, who wished to remain anonymous, told Lusa that members of the PSP, GNR and prison guards were not against increased pay for the judicial police, they just “wanted to be treated equally.”

“When I joined the corporation, GNR was earning 600 euros at the beginning of his career, which was more or less double the minimum salary. Today the minimum wage is 820 euros, and the salary of a colleague at the beginning of his career is not twice that,” he said, lamenting the “real loss of purchasing power.”

Another protest participant, who also did not want to be named, told Lusa that he has a salary of about 1,400 euros with about 30 years of experience, and from home he only pays 800, which “makes it difficult to access the end of the month” with the current salary.

“With a descendant who has to pay for water, electricity, gas, telephone and Internet, it is difficult to reach the end of the month,” he added, given that the working conditions of law enforcement specialists have worsened, and the allocation of funds. The additional payment allocated to PJ has become “ the last straw,” which led to protests from other security forces.

There are also “vehicles that cannot move, trips that are made everywhere depending on the need for services, free services that are paid late,” noted another person present, who also wished to remain anonymous, clarifying that “free services are paid for.” . at 38 euros for four hours,” help professionals arrive more relaxed at the end of the month, but “take away hours of rest” from those who carry them out.