Portuguese ministry summons PSP and GNR police unions for September talks

Portugal's Ministry of Internal Administration announced on 12 September that Minister Luís Neves has called PSP police unions and GNR guard associations for negotiation sessions on 17 and 29 September. The ministry stated that notices for the meetings were sent on 11 September, maintaining that the schedule was previously planned rather than a reaction to planned demonstrations. The meeting on 17 September focuses on concluding negotiations over a special supplement for airport border control, while the session on 29 September will address career restructuring and working hours organization.

The call follows announcements by the Police Professionals Union Association (ASPP) and the Guard Professionals Association (APG/GNR) of joint protests over unfulfilled commitments. The unions cite a 2024 agreement that increased the risk supplement by 300 euros but left salary revisions, career structures, and performance evaluations unaddressed. ASPP scheduled protests between 22 September and 30 October, including demonstrations in Porto on 24 September, Leiria on 1 October, Lisbon on 8 October, and Faro on 14 October, with additional actions possible in Coimbra, Guimarães, and the autonomous regions.

“There is a complete emptying of the PSP in the operational field, there is a glaring violation in various dimensions of the police condition, and it seems to us that there is a passing-the-buck game here to gain even more time. And we, understanding this dynamic, understand that even if new meetings are scheduled, the protest must be a reality.”