After a week of salary demands and tensions in Rosario, Governor Maximiliano Pullaro announced raises for police personnel, leading to the end of the protest. Officers celebrated the deal, which includes a minimum salary of $1,438,000 and a bonus for high-risk areas. The national government is considering similar measures for federal forces.
The police protest in Santa Fe started in the early hours of February 10, 2026, outside the Rosario Police Headquarters, with dozens of patrol cars sounding sirens and surrounding the building. Officers, joined by family members, demanded salary increases and better working conditions, stating that current pay, between $800,000 and $1,200,000, does not cover the basic basket. Tensions escalated, including an assault on police chief Luis Maldonado, and the provincial government placed at least 20 officers on administrative leave.
In a press conference on February 12, Governor Maximiliano Pullaro confirmed an agreement raising the minimum salary to $1,438,000 for all police, technical, and administrative staff from February, payable in March. Operational officers in cities like Rosario, Santa Fe, and Villa Gobernador Gálvez receive an additional $500,000 bonus, totaling $1,938,835, and up to $2,188,835 for vehicle drivers. "This is a very important effort by the provincial government in managing the resources of all taxpayers," Pullaro stated.
One officer celebrated: "We achieved not what we wanted, but what we needed. It's something historic; nothing like this had ever been achieved before." Security Minister Pablo Cococcioni urged agents to resume duties, noting the claim was "addressable." Suspensions were lifted, allowing return to work without penalties for protesting.
Nationally, following the conflict, Javier Milei's government is evaluating a salary recomposition for federal security forces, acknowledging the need for raises. The Ministry of Security will withdraw reinforcements sent to Santa Fe once the situation normalizes.
