Romania: Police without rent money threaten general strike

[cyu]

Excerpts from http://english.hotnews.ro/stiri-regional_europe-6041560-update-policemens-protest-finished-the-unions-threaten-with-general-strike.htm

Several hundred policemen protest on Tuesday in quite a few cities across Romania. They haven't received the rent money for the next months and their income has been reduced by almost 20%

The policemen in Bucharest started protesting at 10 AM in front of the Administration and Interior Ministry (MAI)... policemen are also protesting in several other cities: Alba-Iulia (Central-West), Sibiu (Central), Deva (West), Targu-Mures (North), Brasov (Central), Craiova (South), Resita (West), Ramnicu-Valcea (South), Piatra Neamt (East) and Galati (East).

The policemen in the capital brought a cardboard house to the protest. The union members placed it in front of the National Theatre, symbolising the fact that policemen will no longer be able to afford their rent. They also brought an electric bike along, saying they will run out of money for petrol.

12,000 police staff will be left without the rent money.

if the policemen's requests will not see solutions and if minister Dan Nica "will not sit next to them at the discussion table and if the Police will be stepped over once again", the confederation will launched a general strike.

[Mather]

Great news, different sections of the state are now divided and could soon be at each others throats (hopefully).

Of course my sympathy for police (wherever they are in the world) is zero and the pigs 'workplace dispute' should simply be seen for what it is, the ruling class having a disagreement with it's armed thugs.

[eyedrop]

Such issues always leave me somewhat divided.

The last year here the police union has been one of the most militant unions.

Striking for better working conditions and such.

Although it was quite fun reading how some conservatives thought the streets would devolve into the wild west if the police striked, which obviously didn't happen.

[cyu]

I wouldn't say I have such a low opinion of police officers. Many joined up because they honestly wanted to help people / saw a lot of heroic-cop vs robbers TV shows while growing up, so they had some idealistic views of what the job would be like.

Sure, after a few years (or even weeks), they may have their illusions dispelled, but by then, it's often too late - their life has already gone down this path and to abandon it now may mean economic ruin, which would be worse if they were trying to support a family.

The more years they spend there, it's quite possible the more indoctrinated they become by the apparatus of the status quo. I wouldn't say it's the fault of the cops at the bottom, but rather the upper level officials that put the indoctrination programs in place or carry out their execution.

So yes, many police (as well as soldiers) may slowly move towards the right-wing the longer they're there - but they are not the manipulators - they are the manipulated.

Is it possible to stop their movement to the right, or even reverse course? I believe situations like this are a great oppurtunity (sure, call me an "oppurtunist" if you want =). It is a great chance to start pushing them in the other direction.

[Enragé]

the only problem with what cyu's saying is that as they are in fact, by the very nature of their job (their patrol the streets looking for 'law'breakers - in this sense they are different from soldiers), continually moving to the right, the only way to actually stop the movement to the right (let alone reverse course) would be for a cop to quit being one.

As for the army, we have a few seconds to convince them not to shoot but join us, when that time comes.

[BIG BROTHER]

Is anyone interested in starting a thread about police strikes and its effects? I think its interesting.

Also the relationship between low ranked police officers and Soldiers is interesting. I mean during the October Revolution a lot of soldiers joined the Revolution.

[OneNamedNameLess]

Lol, so who policed the demonstrations? I wonder what would have happened if they got out of hand and violent. Would their cronies have used their batons on their fellow comrades?

[cyu]

Lol, so who policed the demonstrations? I wonder what would have happened if they got out of hand and violent. Would their cronies have used their batons on their fellow comrades?

I doubt it - I'm betting pretty much all the officers are already in the same boat (at least the ones who make up the bottom of the pyramid and have to do all the dirty work).

What would happen instead is that the national guard / army would probably have to be called in. And if they too are facing hard times, then you've got a revolutionary situation on your hands.