Police officers protest for three days in a row in Bucharest

Police officers started a protest in Bucharest on Thursday morning, and plan to continue it for three days in a row, asking for higher wages. The policemen gathered on Thursday morning in front of the Labor Ministry in Bucharest, and plan to do the same on Friday, between 10:00 and 14:00. A larger protest is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, when police officers will gather in front of the Ministry of Interior and will then march to Victoriei Square, located in front of the Government building. They plan to continue their protest until 16:00, according to a statement from the National Trade Union of Police Officers and Contractual Personnel (SNPPC) and the National Union of Police and Customs Officers 'Pro Lex'. Policemen are unhappy with the current salary level. “Although in balance sheets their results are increasingly better, and the statements and speeches always show the appreciation for policemen, the members of the Government fail to take them into account when it comes to money,” according to the statement. Among other things, the unions ask for a Government emergency ordinance that would provide a 20% increase in their base salary, and adding bonuses based on attendance (for night work, difficult conditions, weekends and public holidays) to the base salary from April 1, 2017. Last week, more than 1,200 police officers protested in front of the Interior Ministry and Labor Ministry in Bucharest, also asking for higher wages. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (photo source: Snppc.ro on Facebook)