The upcoming Rally Islas Canarias, scheduled from April 24 to 26, is in jeopardy. Key police unions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, including the Unión Sindical de Policía y Bomberos (USPB), Central Sindical Independiente y de Funcionarios (CSIF), Comisiones Obreras (CC OO), Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), and the Sindicato Profesional de Policía Local y Bomberos (SPPLB), have called on their members not to reinforce the special traffic and security operation required for the motorsport event.
This pressure tactic stems from deep dissatisfaction among officers regarding persistent delays in their overtime and productivity payments. Unions report delays of up to six months for productivity payments, exceeding the legal limit of three months, and over two years for overtime. It is estimated that the City Council owes police approximately 600,000 euros in these arrears alone, dating back to September 2024.
“"The productivity agreement for the Rally Islas Canarias has not even been called for negotiation. The 2025 productivity agreement has expired and was extended for Reyes with a specific negotiation to cover the carnivals."
Víctor García, General Secretary of USPB, highlighted that the situation is a municipal management issue, criticizing the lack of response from the Human Resources department and the inaction following mayoral announcements. According to García, an event of the Rally Islas Canarias' magnitude requires between 70 and 80 officers to ensure safety and manage traffic at numerous intersections and crowded public areas.
“"If there is no reinforcement staff for the Rally Islas Canarias, with what is available in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on a weekend, which is about 15 officers for the entire city, the event should be suspended."
Given the staff shortage, which on a normal weekend reduces to about 15 officers for the entire city, García warned that the event's suspension would be unavoidable without the necessary reinforcements. This situation jeopardizes one of the most significant sporting events in the Canary Islands.
