Palma police go to green to back pay claims

Earlier this week, the Son Servera police dyed their hair blond to press their pay claims, but yesterday, their colleagues in Palma went one step further - they dyed their hair green, blue or red. The reason was the same: to back pay claims. And they took this drastic step because they cannot go on strike. They are demanding back pay for overtime, which in some cases comes to half a million pesetas. The reactions from the public were, on the whole, good humoured. “It looks as though they're making a film about Martians,” said one man who had gone to the San Fernando police station to pay a fine and came face to face with two officers with green hair. “Will they go out and chase delinquents or regulate traffic looking like that?” asked another. And a third said “it's obvious we're giving a pathetic image to tourists, and the council should not allow it.” Most of the police officers themselves are a bit embarrassed with their new look, which they insist has nothing to do with the unions. But, they say, they have been left with no choice.