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Brazil’s police agents began a strike on Monday in Rio de Janeiro, partially closing police stations to protest delays in the pay.
The police officers also protested against the lack of materials in their stations and the shortage of fuel for their vehicles.
"Patience is over. Now it's a matter of survival,” said Fabio Neira, president of the Association of Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro. “We are collapsing. We will increase the mobilization gradually, we do not want to be radical, but the government is leading us to that,” said Neira.
Hundreds of police gathered outside the police headquarters in the neighborhood of Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, the state capital, marching with signs through the downtown streets until they reached the headquarters of the National Assembly.
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“We are unsatisfied and without the prospect (of a solution), we can’t rule out a gridlock during the Olympic Games in August,” Neira said.
Police authorities put out a statement saying they understand the claims, which they also believe are fair.
According to the statement, a commission would analyze the requests, and begin working on the urgent cases.
"We want to recover the integrity of our wages, that payments go back to being done on the second business day of the month, decent conditions in police stations, to end the fuel quota, and that outsourced (employees) can go back to work," said Neira.
The Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5-21.
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