Polish uniformed services trade unions staged a protest on Wednesday in front of the prime minister's office in Warsaw. Police officers, firefighters, customs officers, and border guards demanding an increase in wages blocked traffic through Aleje Ujazdowskie - one of the city's major thoroughfares.
Police officers, firefighters, customs officers, as well as border and prison guards from across Poland staged a protest on Wednesday in Warsaw and demanded their wages be increased. They gathered in front of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, sounded horns, sirens and drums, and displayed banners saying: "Prime Minister, we feel discriminated against," "Service gets poorer, anarchy rages" and "We want justice and decent living".
The decision to take to the streets was made at a session of the Council of the Uniformed Services Trade Unions Federation. The union members demand indexation of wages corresponding at least with the inflation rate. They also oppose the decision to move the indexation from January to March, stressing that the shift pertains only to uniformed services.
At the start of the protest, the participants sang out Poland's national anthem and honoured colleagues fallen in the line of duty with a minute of silence.
Chairman of the Federation Council Czesław Tuła said ahead of the protest that the union members would hand the prime minister their demands regarding wages.
Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration Maciej Wąsik said before the protest he had trusted the unionists would act responsibly. "We've always cooperated openly, through dialogue, even if it was a dispute. I'm certain this time it will be no different," he said.
The Ministry of the Interior and Administration has recently said that although the indexation of wages of uniformed services will become effective on March 1, 2023, they would be paid the full amount earmarked for the whole year within 10 months regardless.
The Trade Unions Federation is soon to decide on further action.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP