Palma's Municipal Police Threaten Protests: Patience Is Running Out

Tensions are running high — protest dates set

In Palma there is tension, and not only along the Passeig on a sunny afternoon: several unions of the municipal police have announced that they will take to the streets in October. Specifically, actions are planned for October 15, and another organization is already preparing a march on the Plaza de Cort for October 6.

What this is about

The points of contention are quite concrete: a restructuring of the duty rosters that has been in the pipeline for months—by the unions even more than a year and a half—yet has not been implemented. The reform was supposed to bring fairer shifts, a rotation for night and weekend duties, and more uniform conditions. Many civil servants feel as if they have been given a promise that no one keeps.

Additionally, the salary issue looms like a thick cloud over the negotiations. One union is demanding allowances of 36,000 euros; the city sees a cap around 31,000 euros. There are also disputes about counting shift work in the annual workload—and the fundamental question of how appreciation is expressed in numbers.

Who is protesting — and against whom?

Several associations are involved: CCOO, UGT, SPPMe and CSIF have announced the joint action for mid-October; the ATAP union plans a separate rally at the beginning of the month. The focus is on the conservative city leadership under Mayor Jaime Martínez (PP). Those affected describe constant delays and a perceived lack of respect for deadlines; in many phone calls the mood was described even more bluntly: We are being kept waiting.

For residents and visitors this means: increased police visibility in the days around the actions, possible disruptions in the city center, and of course many conversations in the cafes around the Plaza.

What could happen next

The unions are not only threatening demonstrations but also keeping other forms of protest open should there be no noticeable movement by mid-October. An important detail: many policemen are less upset about the basic idea of restructuring than about the withdrawn promise to remain in their current area. The feeling that commitments are being overturned is central.

Whether the city administration makes concessions at short notice or the dispute escalates will be decided in the coming weeks. I will continue to follow up and report on site — the discussions are still ongoing, and the coffee bars around the Lonja have already formed their own opinions.