Santa Fe police lift protest after governor announces better wages and conditions

The Santa Fe province police lifted their protest on Wednesday shortly after Governor Maximiliano Pullaro gave a press conference announcing better salaries and conditions for all personnel, including technical and administrative staff. He informed them that the provincial government would raise the monthly minimum wage for every police officer to AR$1.3 million (around US$915 at the official rate). He also promised improvements in mental health care, a crucial demand for the protestors. We have not seen economic growth, but we have made efforts [for salaries to] stay ahead of inflation, Pullaro said. We also understand that police and prison service personnel, as part of a public safety program, deserve to have the government listen to this genuine and fair demand. This demand was addressed, he added. The protest, which began earlier this week, had escalated on Wednesday morning, as demonstrators cut roads with patrol cars and assaulted the chief of police. The conflict Active and retired police officers held protests this week, together with their families, in several cities across Santa Fe province. Their requests hovered over low salaries and mental health issues. In Rosario, a city marked by violence associated with drug dealers, the demonstrations took place on Monday and Tuesday in the early morning in front of the government house and the police headquarters. Police chief Luis Maldonado arrived at the protest on Wednesday morning, which was being held outside the police headquarters. The officers pushed and insulted Maldonado, who took refuge inside the building. The provincial government initially took action by suspending 20 police officers who were participating in the protests while also taking back their service weapons and bulletproof vests. Videos circulated on social media showed tense scenes. In one instance, a police officer was seen trying to talk a group of his masked colleagues and relatives out of the protest. Earlier this month, an officer from Vera city shot himself in the head at a police station, sparking a debate on working conditions and the psychological toll of the job. Provincial authorities had been aware of these issues. Last week, the government announced new benefits. Among them was a financial bonus for street personnel and free-of-charge comprehensive mental health coverage for officers, including professional care, medications, and support for family members. The government also said it would expand free transportation for officers and provide free accommodation in Rosario and Santa Fe for those living in other cities. These benefits, however, did not include technical and administrative personnel, nor 911 staff, which led to an escalation of the conflict.