Only 200 police officers rallied in Sofia Sunday with demands for greater resources as Bulgaria is expected to join the Schengen Agreement in 2011.

The protest was organized by the Policy Syndicate Federation, which complained that the police officers have fewer rights compared with other state employees. They demanded that their organization be included in the national council for tripartite cooperation, which includes the government, the two major trade unions, and six major business associations.

At the moment, the more than 50 000 employees of the Interior Minister cannot protect their rights because they are not entitled to collective bargaining, and all deals with the Interior Minister are just declarative, said the protesters.

"They gave us handouts about how to work when Bulgaria joins the Schengen Agreement. What Schengen Agreement, our uniforms are in rags. Our cards say "Security" and our cars have inscriptions "Gendarmerie", while as of January 1, 2010, we have been called "Security Police Directorate!" said some of the policemen.

They have complained that Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has viewed their actions as politically motivated, while they have demanded solely better equipment and resources. They said the 2011 budget provides only 64% of the money needed for material resources for the police.

The protesters demanded a new format of the Council for Social Partnership in the Interior Ministry, because at present the Minister is both the chair of the council, and a party in the talks.

They slammed the minister for failing to live up to the promises he made to them in mid September.

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