Slovak police request higher wages

Slovakia's police union called for higher wages Tuesday, accusing the government of discrimination, according to the TASR news agency.

The agency quoted head of the Miroslav Litva union as saying that the Slovak government is not paying enough attention to the financial needs of Slovak police, saying they are seriously underpaid compared with the country's military.

A police demonstration in demand of higher wages was scheduled for later Tuesday in downtown Bratislava.

Speaking at a news conference prior to the protest, Litva complained that while the monthly salary of a policeman does not exceed US$276; €231 during his first year in the police force, the starting salary of a soldier is €395.

Litva said he expects at least 1,200 police to participate in the protest, organized by the union. The union represents some 9,000 police, about a half of the country's officers.

V.Y.