Scuffles in Portugal as police protest over wage cuts
- 10 years ago
Thousands of off-duty police officers have been demonstrating in Portugal against cuts to their wages, pensions and welfare benefits.
They gathered in front of parliament in Lisbon, attacking the security cordon, guarded by their uniformed colleagues.
At least 10 people, from both sides, were reported injured during a tense two-hour long stand-off.
“I have been working for 27 years, with non-stop shifts,” said Amaro Rocha, one of the police officers taking part in the protest.
“It is a very hard life – always thinking about work, sticking to the clock, you work and you sleep. And in the end, the salary you get is not even enough to pay the taxes.”
Unrest had also marked a previous police demonstration in November.
Police have been hit by wage cuts under draconian austerity measures imposed by Portugal’s centre-right government in exchange for an international bailout in 2011.
They gathered in front of parliament in Lisbon, attacking the security cordon, guarded by their uniformed colleagues.
At least 10 people, from both sides, were reported injured during a tense two-hour long stand-off.
“I have been working for 27 years, with non-stop shifts,” said Amaro Rocha, one of the police officers taking part in the protest.
“It is a very hard life – always thinking about work, sticking to the clock, you work and you sleep. And in the end, the salary you get is not even enough to pay the taxes.”
Unrest had also marked a previous police demonstration in November.
Police have been hit by wage cuts under draconian austerity measures imposed by Portugal’s centre-right government in exchange for an international bailout in 2011.