This weekend the first pilgrimage of the many that will take place throughout the summer was held across the islands, and the Guardia Civil, who are expected to assist in reinforcing security during this type of event, continue to be paid 1.42 euros an hour for working on ‘fiesta’ days, meaning they receive 11.40 euros for eight hours work.
This is what each of the nearly 200 agents who worked either the morning, afternoon, or night shifts for the Tegueste pilgrimage, have received.
This is in contrast to, according to a complaint lodged by the AUGC, their colleagues from the Local Police who get paid 50 euros an hour which means they receive 400 euros each for working the same day.
The Unified Association of the Guardia Civil (AUGC) has criticized the discrimination suffered by these officers who continue to be, in their words, "the Cinderella among the State Security forces" because they are paid less than two euros an hour for working on bank holidays.
They claim that in this day and age in the 21st century, the Guardia Civil continues to work without overtime, without bonuses, and without being compensated fairly for the, on average, 150 hours a year they do more than the rest of the police.
Nor do they get fair pensions for what is classed as a “risky profession”, and they are the only members of the Security Forces and Corps to whom the Military Penal Code is applied.
These are the reasons why the AUGC is demanding changes for their officers to bring them in line with others.
It begs the question as to why people want to join!
