Want to “show visitors to Portugal conditions in which police work”
The platform that represents syndicates of the PSP and GNR police forces has called vigils today at the country’s main airports, as well at Lisbon’s cruise terminal, in a bid to maintain pressure on the country’s warring politicians.
While political parties focus on pre-election campaigning – and all the pledges this involves – police ‘left out in the cold’ by the current government have no intention of letting their issues slide.
Today’s protests are intended to show people “visiting Portugal” the conditions in which police officers work”.
The vigil at Lisbon airport was in place for the arrival of long-distance flights at 6am this morning. It will last until lunchtime, Bruno Pereira – spokesman for the platform – told Lusa (coinciding with the busiest period for incoming flights).
“Our presence here is very important. On the one hand, to publicise our problems and on the other, to keep the issue on the agenda so that the next government can take decisions.”
The platform is demanding a supplement identical to the one awarded to the Judicial Police last year.
Elsewhere, there are vigils ongoing in Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada and Funchal airports, as well as Lisbon’s cruise terminal.
Bruno Pereira said that the GNR police and military will continue to show their indignation against “unequal and discriminatory treatment” until something changes in their favour.
He also told Lusa that he was pleased that the problem is being addressed in television debates between candidates for the elections on March 10.
“Although they are being addressed in a tenuous way, they are being addressed in the debates, and that is very important,” he said
The platform, which brings together seven unions from the PSP police and four associations from the GNR, has also scheduled a sit-in in Lisbon’s Praça do Comércio next Monday and a national meeting of PSP and GNR agents on March 2.
Members of both forces have staged several protests since January to demand the same ‘mission supplement’ awarded to PJ Judicial Police – which have stressed they completely support their colleagues’ campaign.
As with all protests these days, most have been organised via social media groups – WhatsApp and Telegram – from which the inorganic movement ‘Movimento INOP’ has emerged – which has no union involvement.
More recently, a number of agents have taken sick leave, which has led to the cancellation of football matches in the top two leagues, although the platform does not openly admit that these are other forms of protest.
Relations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (which has responsibility for police) have further soured following the minister’s lambasting of police, insinuating that the protests are being orchestrated by ‘extremist groups’. A number of inquiries have been launched, particularly by IGAI, the General Inspectorate of Internal Affairs. ND
Source material: Lusa/ Sic Notícias
