Santa Cruz de Tenerife Events at Risk as Police Halt Overtime in Labor Dispute

Public events in Santa Cruz de Tenerife face major uncertainty after the local police force decided to stop working extra hours indefinitely. Officers will now limit their duties strictly to their standard shifts, a move that threatens to disrupt the logistics for upcoming concerts, festivals, and special operations across the city.

The dispute stems from a long-standing deadlock over the Job Position List (RPT). Union representatives—including Asipal, CC.OO., Intersindical Canaria, and UGT—claim the City Council has repeatedly failed to honor its commitments, leading to widespread frustration among staff. The core issue is a demand for professional reclassification, with unions seeking to align their pay and job categories with other technical and auxiliary roles in the local administration. The City Council estimates that meeting these salary demands would cost 1.5 million euros, a figure that has stalled negotiations.

A recent assembly, supported by two-thirds of the staff, marked a turning point in the relationship between the police and the local government. While the CSIF union has distanced itself from the protest, it has pledged to respect the majority's decision. The other unions intend to continue the work-to-rule action until the administration changes its position.

Gladis de León, head of the Department of Security, has urged caution, stating that these issues should be resolved at the Sectoral Table meeting scheduled for later this week. The situation highlights how dependent the city’s cultural and social calendar is on police officers working beyond their standard hours. It also reveals a significant breakdown in trust between the local government and its police force, with no immediate resolution in sight.