Policemen's protest. Head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration: there are no funds for pay rises, but we sit and talk

The Main Board of the Police NSZZ announced a nationwide protest. “For many months we have been trying to hold talks with the government, calling for improvements in the working conditions of police officers, for ensuring adequate remuneration, as well as for increased funds for the development and modernization of uniformed services, which constitute the foundation of citizens' security. (…) Unfortunately, despite multiple meetings, attempts at negotiations and readiness to compromise, the Ministry of Interior and Administration has not shown any willingness to actually solve our problems. Instead of conducting dialogue, our demands have been consistently rejected, ignoring the needs and expectations of police officers,” the officers said.

On Monday, the boss commented on the matter Ministry of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak. – There are certainly no funds for 15-percent raises for police officers, but we are working to ensure that there are funds for housing issues, which are raised as absolutely the number one topic by the officers themselves, commanders and trade unions – he commented on the First Program of Polish Radio .

– We are sitting at the table, talking, and making very serious proposals to the trade union in the areas that have been indicated to us – emphasized the minister, directly referring to the issue of housing allowances for officers reporting to the Ministry of Interior and Administration.

Tomasz Siemoniak reminded that the Social Dialogue Council proposes that the increase be 15% for the entire budget sector. At the same time, at the beginning of this year, there were increases of 20% for the budget sector, including for officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, including policemen. – It seems to me that such an action is inappropriate here – said the minister.

In the conversation, he also emphasized that he was trying to solve various problems regarding pay raises and, for example, housing issues for police officers. He added that trade union leaders know exactly how much money is in the budget.

“The protest will last until the authorities show the will to enter into serious negotiations and take real actions to implement our demands. The Ministry of Interior and Administration bears full responsibility for the fact that the situation led to the escalation of tension and forced us to make this decision,” the officers announced.

According to them, the protest action is aimed at defending the dignity of officers, improving working conditions in the police and ensuring that the service will be fully effective and professional in the future.

Already in October, we informed tvn24.pl that “flu”, which was a form of the Italian strike, is spreading more and more among the police ranksand police officers across the country took part in it sick leave. It was not controlled by trade unions and there was no official information about it.

– As a responsible trade union, we have never encouraged people to go to the doctor en masse to find out whether police officers are sick or not. Our actions are about something else. (…) Between October 30 and November 12, we encourage police officers and police employees to undergo preventive examinations, said Staff Sergeant Jacek Łukasik, Chairman of the Police “S” Protest Committee, at one of the press conferences, referring to the activities of the protesters.

Trade unionists from NSZZ Policemen demand, among others: for salary indexation by 15%, universal housing benefits similar to those received by soldiers and general improvement of working conditions of police officers.

In mid-October, the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration appointed Deputy Minister Wiesław Szczepański as the plenipotentiary for cooperation with trade unions. Since then, meetings have been held within the Team for Improving Service Conditions by Officers of Services subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administration. Both ministry representatives and trade unionists take part in them.