PS and AD indicate in their programs negotiations with the police about additions to the mission

The PS and AD have included negotiations on “increasing the cost” of security forces and services in their election platforms, while almost all other parties have explicitly proposed equalizing the mission allowance assigned to the Judicial Police (PJ).

The issue of the mission allowance for the SP, which in some cases represented an increase of approximately 700 euros per month, was the cause of protests by specialists from the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR), which occurred more than a month ago. Representatives of trade unions and associations emphasized the existence of differences in treatment, and the issue led to meetings with some party leaders.

In its election platform last weekend, the PS pledged to “initiate immediate negotiations with trade unions and professional associations representing the security forces as part of an agreed career review plan to improve pay and dignity for police officers.” conditions, especially for functions involving risk and difficulty, to ensure that similar functions and activities are treated fairly.”

The Democratic Alliance (AD) programme, which brings together the PSD, CDS and the People’s Monarchist Party, envisages “initiating as a priority a process of professional and paid development of men and women serving in the security forces and services”, adding the intention to make careers in the security forces more attractive with with a focus on “reward redesign.”

With the exception of the PAN, which has not yet presented its program, and the Liberal Initiative (IL), which is more silent on this specific issue and only suggests “a gradual consolidation of the components of the remuneration of security forces, transferring them into basic wages,” the remaining parties are united in recognizing the need to equalize mission allowance which was assigned by the SP government at the end of 2023 for PSP and GNR but with retroactive effect from January.

“Equalize the risk allowance between the different security forces, taking as a basis the mission allowance provided by the judicial police, and also apply it to the PSP and GNR,” Chega argues in his election platform, in which he also includes the recognition of these specialists as “the right party affiliation, as well as the right to strike.”

The CDU, which also advocates “an adequate regime for the right to strike, ensuring the right to negotiate,” points to “increasing the salaries of professionals and due recognition of risk” and “equalizing between all forces the additional cost of the mission.” .

The left bloc proposes to “increase the amount paid as a risk subsidy to PSP and GNR, making it equivalent to the amount paid to judicial police specialists.”

Finally, Livret defends a review of salaries, careers and working conditions in the sector, “equating the service and risk allowance in the PSP and GNR security forces with the PJ mission allowance.”

In addition to demonstrations in several cities in recent weeks, a large number of police sick leaves have been recorded, which, despite the platform uniting 11 trade unions and associations of the PSP and GNR not suggesting that this is a form of protest, has dictated the postponement of the I and II Football League games from – lack of police activity.

Portugal will hold early legislative elections on March 10, 2024, planned by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, following the resignation of Prime Minister António Costa on November 7, which was the subject of an investigation by the Portuguese Ministry of State. Supreme Court Court. The election campaign for legislative elections will take place from February 25 to March 8.