Rosario Police Win Pay Raise After Mental Health Protest

After three days of demonstrations demanding fair pay and mental health support, police officers in Rosario, Argentina celebrated a major victory that will lift their salaries above poverty wages.

Dozens of officers and their families gathered outside police headquarters in Santa Fe Province starting Monday, blocking roads with patrol cars and burning tires to demand change. Their protest came after a series of police suicides, including 32-year-old officer Oscar Valdéz, highlighting the mental health crisis within the force.

Governor Maximiliano Pullaro listened and delivered. On Wednesday, he announced that no police officer or prison service member in the province would earn less than 1,350,000 pesos (about $950 USD) per month.

"The claim has been addressed," Pullaro said, acknowledging the protest was "just and genuine." The new base salary now exceeds the cost of basic necessities for a family of four in Argentina.

Minutes after the announcement, officers started their engines and cleared the blocked avenues. Uniformed personnel and their relatives embraced, celebrating the win.

"We're more than happy. It's emotional because we've fought for this," said retired officer Germán Carballo. "The lads are going to work and the city will be protected."

The officers had been working under crushing conditions in Argentina's third-largest city, which has the country's highest crime rates. Many were forced to work overtime just to afford food, pay for their own uniforms, internet access, and even ammunition out of pocket.

Yamile, whose father is a police officer, described the toll. "Police officers are extremely stressed from working so much. Their heads can't cope, their bodies can't cope."

The Ripple Effect

The victory extends beyond paychecks. Governor Pullaro also reinstated 20 officers who had been suspended for protesting and promised improved mental health resources for the force.

The dialogue between leadership and officers remains open, creating a foundation for addressing future concerns before they reach crisis levels. Better communication channels mean officers now have legitimate pathways to voice concerns about working conditions.

For families like Néstor's, a 68-year-old retired officer whose grandson took his own life in May, the changes come with hope that future tragedies might be prevented. The acknowledgment of mental health needs alongside fair compensation recognizes that protecting a city requires first protecting those who serve.

Rosario's homicide rate has already improved dramatically over the past two years, dropping from 20 per 100,000 residents to 6.75. With officers now earning livable wages and promised mental health support, the city's security forces can focus on continuing that progress rather than struggling to survive.

This win shows what happens when workers stand together for dignity and leaders choose to listen.