The government of Río Negro is heading towards a new storm front, considering the recent precedent of the violent police protest that paralyzed the province of Santa Fe. Muñoz anticipated that the encampment in the capital will be 'indefinite' until the 'off-the-books' items that defund the social security system and harm retirees are eliminated.
The police rejection came after the Ministry of Security of Río Negro announced the salary increase scheme designed for February. The official proposal established a total improvement of 6.79%, composed of a 5.2% automatic adjustment for inflation (CPI) and an additional 1.5% specific to the security sector. This scheme raised the initial salary of a security agent to $1,417,366 (leaving almost $400,000 below what the Council demanded).
The main point of friction lies in the payment method for the additional increase and compensatory bonuses: the extra 6% will be paid in installments; the government informed that the additional amount exclusive to the Police will be paid in four installments of 1.5% with the February, March, April, and May salaries. Fixed sum divided; a non-remunerative bonus of $250,000 was also granted, but also split into two payments of $125,000 (February 20 and March 20). The only thing paid in full with the February salaries was the 100% increase in the school aid item ($80,000 per child and $160,000 per child with a disability).
Far from easing the tension, the staggered payment was the trigger that pushed the security force to harden its stance and march towards the governorship.
Sectors of the Provincial Police and the Penitentiary Service flatly rejected the latest announcements for salary recomposition and threaten with indefinite force measures. According to what Argentine News Agency learned, representatives of the uniformed personnel delivered a formal petition in General Roca and announced an encampment for this Wednesday in front of the Government House in Viedma. The call, driven by the Río Negro Police and Penitentiary Welfare Council (CBPPRN), seeks to make visible the agents' weariness due to the precariousness of their salaries and what they consider a 'stagnation of dialogue' with the administration of Governor Alberto Weretilneck.
What do the uniformed demand? The central claim of the document submitted by the Council is to reach a minimum initial salary of $1,800,000, a figure they consider essential to guarantee the food security of police families. Rubén Muñoz, a sector leader, warned about the serious socio-economic crisis the forces are going through: 'Many agents are at risk of being evicted due to delays in rental payments, and some families cannot secure basic food'. Additionally, the uniformed are weaving strategic alliances. The Council confirmed that it has established contacts with ASSPUR (the Provincial Public Health Workers' Union) to coordinate joint actions and expand the state protest front.
