The civil service union CSIF, which represents a majority of Palma's local police, has hit back at claims that officers have not been working the hours they should be. All officers, it insists, "strictly comply with the stipulated working day".
The union issued a statement today which was in response to Angelica Pastor, the councillor for public safety, who earlier in the week said that 65% of the force have been working fewer hours than they should do. The union maintains that all officers adhere to what was negotiated plus additional hours when the town hall has a particular need.
If there is an adjustment to officers' hours, it is due to what has been agreed between the town hall and unions for weekends, holidays and nighttime as well as to requirements of specific units. This is the same for most police forces, the union argues.
CSIF also believes that it was a "mistake" for the town hall to have made public a report into working hours and to have referred to supposed non-compliance with working hours. Had the report taken into account coefficients related to hours, this would show there was no non-compliance. It has therefore seriously harmed the reputation of the police force.
The fact is, says the union, that the administration recognises that there is a debt owed to police officers of almost three million euros (for seemingly unpaid overtime). Rather than assuming its responsibility and negotiating with unions on this debt, it is alluding to other issues which lead to an erroneous perception of the police force.