Coast Guard officials protest against salary cuts

Coast guard officials staged a protest against the passing of a recent decree that saw “between 30 to 60 percent decrease” of their salaries yesterday.

Secretary of Security Sergio Berni asked for a 24-hour period to come up with a solution. But the officials have said they would only lift the protests “once they are shown a concrete offer.” Negotiations with Berni and Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino failed.

The protest began at the Cinturón Sur 24 Unit, on Pinzón 90, and expanded to the Grupo Albatros staff, also a part of the Border Patrol forces. At the same time, another group was protesting outside the Guardacosta building, on Madero 200, which prompted Security secretary Sergio Berni to show up at the site to talk to the protesters. Lenthy negotiations between prefecture officials and Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino and the Security Secretary failed late on Tuesday.

The Prefecture officers explained that the protest “is not against the Ministry of Security, but against the Prefecture leaders, who do not represent the rest of the staff.”

They said, however, the protests would continue until they obtain a concrete proposal.