More members of the Provincial Police and the Provincial Penitentiary service joined the camp for salary improvements that they have been carrying out for seven days. However, at the end of a meeting that took place during the early hours of Thursday at the police headquarters, talk began about a “principle of understanding” that could put an end to the conflict.
Germán Palavecino, spokesperson for the protesters, stressed the importance of dialogue to resolve the current problem. “We understand that the best way to resolve this problem is with dialogue, and when this is not enough, as we always reiterate, with more dialogue,” he said and confirmed that after midnight on Wednesday they were summoned by the Government of Misiones.
The meeting was headed by the coordinating cabinet minister, Ricardo Llera, and was attended by the head of the Police Headquarters, Commissioner General Sandro Martínez, and the deputy chief of Police. “There are principles of understanding that are quite important, such as the reopening of this new dialogue, and we are confident that they will be able to improve all these issues, all this distancing. There has to be a little more proximity,” Palavecino remarked.
The core of the conflict lies in the salary issue. “We need an offer that is reasonable. We understand the socioeconomic context we are going through, but we don’t even talk about justice, it is a matter of subsistence. They lowered our salary by more than 50% in a very short period, we are talking about October to date. “That’s what it’s about,” Palavecino explained.
Regarding the willingness to negotiate the percentage increase, Palavecino was hopeful. “We are hopeful of receiving a proposal that is reasonable, that gives us a glimmer of hope that we can get out of this situation in the short term,” he stated.
For his part, the Minister of Government, in statements to radio stations in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Marcelo Pérez, threatened with the dismissal of police officers “who have used State assets to carry out the protest.” In this sense, it is worth mentioning that in the camp there are police vehicles and Provincial Police fire engines.
Other groups joined
The camp of the Police, the Provincial Penitentiary Service, health, education and the employees of Energía de Misiones Sociedad Anónima were joined by the herbal producers, tobacco producers and stevedores of the central market of Posadas.
This Thursday there were cuts on national routes 12 and 14, by teachers and health personnel. Meanwhile, in the city of Eldorado, located about 200 kilometers north of Posadas, Health workers blocked the entrance to the city’s two hospitals, there was even no attention from the guards.
As mentioned in previous editions, police and prison service personnel request a 100% increase in their salaries. The government offered 20% compared to April salaries. The same percentage is requested by education workers who received 34%, health workers who were awarded 28%, and energy workers from Misiones.
Sanctions
The Minister of Government of Misiones Marcelo Pérez confirmed that the police officers who have participated in the protests will be left out of the provincial force. “Of course yes, there is a criminal complaint and that complaint will determine the responsibilities,” said the official.
In statements to CABA radio stations, Pérez warned that actions that violate public order and the normal functioning of the security forces will not be tolerated.
“They cannot use State property to protest,” said Pérez, and that the claim of the group of uniformed security forces “is outside the law,” and that they committed a series of actions such as the “28 police mobile phones that were stolen that “They are being used for anything but security functions.”
Pérez recalled that there is a criminal complaint in which a group of 40 active police officers who began the protest last Friday are accused of “robbery and theft” of State property. The complaint is about the police patrol cars, motorcycles, and vans that remain parked today in the middle of Uruguay and Félix Bogado avenues, in front of the Radioelectric Command I, which is the epicenter of the protest.
Payment of salaries
Through his X account, the governor of the province Hugo Passalacqua announced the dates for the payment of salaries for the month of May to active and retired public employees. “On the 30th, salaries will be paid to all passive and active Public Administration workers with the corresponding increase.” “On June 19, the half bonus and the Provincial Teacher Incentive Fund will be paid,” he concluded.
