Police protest in Warsaw, demanding higher pay

Members of Poland’s uniformed services – including police, border guards, firefighters and prison guards – have protested in front of the prime minister’s office in Warsaw, demanding a pay rise.

Amid the blare of trumpets, sirens and drums, the demonstrators brandished banners declaring, “We want justice and a life with dignity” and “Prime minister, we feel discriminated against”. The protest blocked off a number of streets in the centre of the capital.

Pod KPRM protest służb mundurowych.#mundurówka #protest pic.twitter.com/4CmKHK3y3G

— Katarzyna Lubnauer (@KLubnauer) November 9, 2022

“Unfortunately, the situation has forced us to do this,” said Rafał Jankowski, a senior official from a branch of the Solidarity trade union that represents police officers. He pointed to inflation in Poland, which reached a 26-year high when it hit 17.9% in October.

“We all know what the inflation rate is, and what the government proposes [as a pay rise] – 7.8% – is unacceptable,” Jankowski added. “This is a situation in which thousands…will leave the ranks of the police and other services.”

No estimates have been published of turnout at the demonstration, though beforehand media reported that thousands were due to attend. Images show large numbers marching.

Inflation accelerated again in Poland in October to reach 17.9%, the highest level since December 1996.

Energy prices increased by 41.7% year on year while food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 21.9% pic.twitter.com/ytYi4eNqkd

— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) October 31, 2022

The demonstrators handed a list of their demands to deputy interior minister Maciej Wąsik, who said: “We will consider these, read them and meet with unions. I can assure you that we will talk about this.”

However, asked earlier about the pay demands voiced by unions, Wąsik, cited by the Wirtualna Polska news website, said: “It seems that there is no possibility of increasing the budget in this respect”.

Tuesday’s rally in Warsaw followed a recent protest by the Polish Teachers’ Union, which is demanding a 20% pay rise, and a demonstration by miners last month who attempted to brick up the entrance to the prime minister’s parliamentary office in Katowice.