Police pay pact set to end bitter dispute
Jávea council reaches deal with overstretched force after years of protests
A DEADLOCK between Jávea police and council has finally been broken after four years of protests, strikes and a shrinking local force.
After the latest demonstration – when officers stripped to their underpants and wore colourful carnival wigs – the local government put a new working conditions deal to the vote.
Despite mayor José Chulvi's admitting he ‘totally agreed’ with the force’s requests for a pay rise and better work-life balance, talks had continually broken down and the situation gradually reached crisis point.
With officers leaving for other towns offering higher pay and less-demanding shifts, those left behind said they were struggling to cope with the workload.
This created a catch-22 scenario with yet more police signed off work with stress-related illness, increasing the pressure still further on their remaining colleagues.
Over a year ago, the force
announced it would no longer agree to working overtime, even though these extra hours made up a significant chunk of their income.
This has led to residents complaining their streets were far less safe and that the rise in crime was very noticeable.
Police praise councillor's 'integrity'
The most recent monthly council meeting, open to the public, saw officers unanimously agreeing to proposed new pay scales and to each working 100 hours’ overtime per annum.
All councillors present voted in favour of the deal.
One of the local force, representing his colleagues, gave a speech in which he thanked treasury councillor Ximo Segarra for his ‘integrity, intelligence and good will’.
He also expressed his gratitude to public safety officer Juan Ortolá, who had once offered to resign from his job when he saw that labour negotiations had hit a wall.
“In the 14 years I've been a police officer, there's never been a councillor like you,” the force representative said to Sr Ortolá.
“You’re a very attentive and helpful person, and we want to thank you for all your hard work.”
Mayor José Chulvi, whilst regretting that the dispute had become ‘personal’ against him, praised the force for their ‘effort, commitment and dedication’.