On October 19th, Security Forces, the Traffic Police, the Professional Immigration Police and Prison Police’s union representatives asked for an improvement of their working conditions, as well as a pension law and changes in the working hours schedule. The request was made by 100 officers at the National Park in San José.
Mainor Anchía, representative of the National Association of Public Employees of the security forces, declared that the schedule known as 2x2x2 is affecting officers’ health.
Under this scheme, officers work two shifts during the day, two shifts at night and they have two days off with 12-hour working days.
If the recommendations from the technical institutions are not addressed, the next demonstration will be much bigger,
reported Anchía.
In addition, Homer Alfaro, General Secretary from the National Union of Traffic Professional Technicians declared that officers are affected by the unhealthy work schedule which has virtually made them to be away from their families.
Similarly, Gerardo Mora,b Professional Immigration Police union leader, added that this unit is not taken into account and they are requesting to be included in the benefits that could produce the limit society’s tax bill.
Furthermore, the police is demanding a pension plan for officers and asked Legislator Gerardo Vargas from Frente Amplio, who was part of this activity, his endorsement in the Legislature regarding this issue.
According to the organizers, the officers who attended the protest had their day off.