This movement has even been nicknamed “Operation Lucyna,” with officers joking about suffering from “bird flu” while on sick leave.
Based on what is known as an L4 form, which is a document issued in Poland to certify that an individual is unable to work due to illness, organizers of the nationwide police protest report that around 10,000 officers have recently not reported for duty.
According to the newspaper Rzeczpospolita, this number could increase to as many as 20,000 just before Poland's Independence Day on November 11.
The protest, primarily concentrated in the southern regions of Poland, is a response to difficult working conditions and inadequate pay, despite recent salary increases.
The Polish National Police Headquarters has not provided specific figures on the number of officers on leave but assures that public safety is not compromised.
The protesting officers are demanding higher wages, linking the police budget to GDP, and equal social benefits with those received by soldiers, including housing allowances and real vacation subsidies.
They are also seeking systemic changes, such as a 15% salary increase next year and retirement after 18 years of service.
Officers affiliated with the police unions are awaiting a response from the Ministry of the Interior by November 15, after which they plan further actions as part of this informal strike.
Source: PAP/Rzeczpospolita
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