The organisation that brings together the largest unions and associations of the security forces and services will hold a rally on April 16 in front of the Prime Minister’s residence in Lisbon to protest against the cuts in pensions.
In a statement released today, the Permanent Coordinating Committee (CCP) of Unions and Associations of Professionals of the Security Forces and Services – which brings together structures from the PSP (Public Security Police), GNR (National Republican Guard), prison guards, ASAE (Food and Economic Security Authority) and Maritime Police – states that the demonstration aims to protest “solely the serious error of the pension cuts foreseen in legislative changes made since 2005”.
“The CCP vehemently rejects measures aimed at penalising those who have dedicated a lifetime to public service, often in conditions of extreme risk and at the sacrifice of their personal and family life,” the organization states, emphasising that it does not accept that “the safety of citizens should be guaranteed at the expense of the precariity of those who ensure it.”
The unions and associations that are part of the CCP demand “respect for those who guarantee security,” considering that “a decent pension is not a privilege, but a right earned after decades of dedication to the state.”
In the statement, the CPP highlights the discontent within security forces and services and calls on younger professionals to be present at the rally, reminding them of the “negative impact they may suffer on their pensions if they do not fight for their rights through representative structures”.
“The CCP calls for massive participation. It is essential that on April 16 that our voice is heard in a unified and clear way. The union of all associative and trade union structures demonstrates that this is not a sectoral protest, but rather a cry of alarm from the entire security family in Portugal,” the statement continues.
The dispute between members of the security forces and services escalated after parliament rejected, on February 27, initiatives – presented by righ-wing CHEGA and PCP communists – that aimed to increase the pension supplement for members of the Armed Forces and GNR, and for personnel of the security forces, ensuring that pensions corresponded to 90% of the last salary received.
The new rules for pension reforms in the GNR (National Republican Guard), Armed Forces, and police aim for ‘convergence with the general system’ – reducing pensions from 90% to approximately 60%-70% of the last salary, with cuts that can reach around 30%. The changes depend on the date of registration with Caixa Geral de Aposentações (the General Pension Fund of state-paid workers) and introduce age limits (60 years) and length of service requirements.
source: LUSA
