Date 3–13 December 2013 Status Ended | Location Argentina | |
Causes Wage claims by provincial police Methods Walkout
Looting
Roadblock Provincial police rebels
Looters Provincial governments
Loyal police
Residents
Merchants | ||
The 2013 Police revolts in Argentina were a series of protests by provincial police demanding better pay and working conditions, which affected 21 of Argentina's 23 provinces.
Contents
Some of the strike methods included neglect of duty and breaking into public buildings. Due to this situation, looting began to occur in some cities, Córdoba being the most affected, followed by Tucumán. The riots began on 3 December and ended ten days later.
Preceding industrial dispute
In 2013, an estimated Argentinean inflation rate of 25% had eroded police officer's salaries, which were not automatically inflation index-linked. The wages paid by provincial governments, many of whom rely heavily upon the national government for funding, often failed to keep pace with the rapidly rising cost of living.Christmas-related pressure to buy gifts may have been one trigger for the unrest.
The strike
The looting began on 3 December in Cordoba, Argentina’s second-largest city, when the provincial police force went on strike. More than 1,000 stores were robbed, hundreds of people were injured and one person was killed. Cordoba’s governor increased the police force’s basic salaries by 33%, which ended the disorder in Cordoba, but inspired police forces in other provinces.
Forces in 20 of Argentina’s 24 provinces followed the example of their colleagues in Cordoba, inviting widespread robbery and violence. Opportunistic members of the public "broke through shop windows and wrenched open doors to load up wheelbarrows and horse-drawn carriages with food, clothing and furniture". By 11 December, most governors had settled with their police forces, offering salary raises of as much as 45%. In many of these cases, lootings were carried out by organized criminals on motorcycles or by foot, who broke in different neighborhoods to steal anything they could find around them. They carried firearms and sticks, among other items.
As a result of the numerous riots and looting in most districts, 18 deaths were recorded (although this is not an official figure) and hundreds injured, especially due to armed clashes taking place in the Tucumán Province where the largest number of deaths (8) occurred, followed by Chaco Province with 4, and Entre Ríos Province with 3.
The Argentina Confederation company and regional chambers of commerce estimated the losses at 568.450.000 Argentine pesos and 1.900 businesses were affected by looting.
The only districts where no protests and looting were reported are the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz Province and Santiago del Estero Province.