The CSIF Union representing the Local Police of Santa Cruz highlighted yesterday “the inadequate working conditions” under which the municipal officers will carry out their duties during the security operation planned for the Chicharrero Carnival, “Labour demands that cannot be equated with any other festivity throughout the year in the city.”
The union representative, Jesús Illada, elaborated that “the unions and the authorities negotiated salary conditions for extra hours during the carnival in 2004, when the workforce comprised 414 officers, compared to the current 330. Moreover, there were no daytime carnivals, nor any inclusive or children’s parades, let alone the international and tourist aspect of the celebrations. Presently, the workload has increased, we have fewer officers, yet the extra pay remains unchanged.”
He further indicated that it is “absurd to confront the Carnival with working conditions that are 21 years out of date, which the City Council has consistently failed to update, despite the CSIF making requests since 2019.”
In response, the Councilor for Security, Gladis de León (CC), stated that “the working conditions of the police have been adjusted in accordance with the proposals put forward by both the administration and unions at the sectoral negotiation meetings, which are typically conducted regularly.”
The mayor reminded that “in recent years, aside from a significant enhancement of tangible resources for the police, there has also been an increase in various remuneration components for the collective, such as night allowances, extraordinary services, or destination supplements.”
