“The movement of personnel from the PSP to SEF can jeopardise the security of national airports, taking into account the already evident lack of personnel at PSP, since the police elements that are moved to SEF will hardly be replaced by other professionals in the policing and security missions that they have carried out at airports until now”, says the union, in a statement.

The contingency plan for border posts at Portuguese airports for the period from June to September 2022 covers 168 PSP agents, who will now be under the operational command of the Foreigners and Borders Service in passenger control.

Sinapol also considers that “the loss of labour rights by PSP members who come to work for SEF may be at stake, namely the right to perform paid services, as well as any overtime.

Risk of transfer

The union also warns of the risk that PSP agents could be transferred to other airports that are not the ones where they currently work.

Sinapol states that it is not against PSP agents going to SEF, but does not agree with the way in which “this entire process of movement is taking place” due to the pressure exerted on the police when they are subject to filling out an acceptance document, with “almost an ultimatum tone”.

The union also considers it “unacceptable” that the unions representing the PSP have not been summoned to meetings at the Ministry of Internal Administration or at the national board of the PSP, in addition to the “sad reality of the PSP agents being treated as cheap labour as they continue to receive the salary from the PSP and not the equivalent salary in the SEF”.