Polish police get more pay, end protests
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
09.11.2018 12:17
Poland's interior ministry and trade unionists have come to a deal to end police protests over pay and pensions.
Rafał Jankowski and Joachim Brudziński shake hands. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Police and other uniformed officers on the ministry's payroll are set to get PLN 655 (EUR 153, USD 173) per month more next year and a further PLN 500 more monthly the year after.
They are also set to get fully paid overtime.
The country's firefighters have thus far received 60 percent of their hourly rate for overtime, while police, border guards and government security officers were only entitled to time in lieu.
Officers will also be entitled to retire after 25 years on the job, doing away with a previous rule that required them to also be at least 55 years old.
Rafał Jankowski, the leader of a union bringing together the country’s police, called the deal a milestone in relations with Interior Minister Joachim Brudziński.
He said it was the "best deal that could have been negotiated."
Jankowski added that the deal ended protests.
According to media reports, police officers as well as firefighters and other uniformed officers – who are not legally allowed to strike – had been taking paid sick leave in their protest for better pay and pensions.
(vb/gs)
Source: PAP