By Justina Ilkevičiūtė, Enrika Gecaitė, LRT TV, LRT.lt.

Unions representing police officers, border guards, firefighters, and other uniformed personnel are calling on the government to honour its earlier pledge to raise salaries, warning they will join a protest planned by the cultural sector at the end of November if no action is taken.

Union leaders say next year’s state budget falls short by at least 150 million euros to cover wages and essential work equipment. Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič said that although pay increases were planned, rising national defence and other state priorities have outweighed the allocation for law enforcement.

Newly hired firefighters face life-threatening challenges on the job yet earn little more than the country’s minimum wage, according to the unions.

“The latest figures show a starting firefighter earns around 840 euros,” said Loreta Soščekienė, head of the Lithuanian Law Enforcement Officers’ Federation. “They work 24-hour shifts, respond to fires and car crashes. How can they survive without taking a second job? They don’t do it for fun, they do it to feed their families.”

The unions estimate that about 80 percent of firefighters hold second jobs, often working as drivers or security guards to make ends meet. Similar trends are seen among police officers and border guards.

Read more: LRT.LT