Ceuta: mass rally of military personnel on 16 September at Plaza de los Reyes

The Spanish Troops and Sailors Association (ATME) has called a historic demonstration in Ceuta, Spain, on 16 September to protest against the working and professional situation of military personnel.

## Unprecedented military rally in Ceuta

On **16 September** at **8:00 pm**, **Plaza de los Reyes** in **Ceuta** will be the setting for an unprecedented gathering of military personnel. The Spanish Troops and Sailors Association (ATME), through its president **Marco Antonio Gómez**, has called on service members, families, security forces, content creators and citizens to join this mobilisation. The aim is to make visible and reverse what they denounce as an unsustainable working and professional situation within the Armed Forces.

This event has no precedent in the recent history of Spain or of the autonomous city. The organisation stresses that the protest is backed by current legislation, which allows military personnel to hold rallies on strictly professional grounds. They are seeking broad social support, recalling the constant work of the Armed Forces in emergencies and disasters.

## Pay and professional demands

The demands behind this demonstration are varied and far-reaching. One of the main ones is achieving **decent pay**, in contrast to what ATME describes as "perversos salaries". At the same time, they demand **official recognition of the military profession as a high-risk occupation**, a status shared with bodies such as the National Police and the Civil Guard.

In addition, the association calls for designation as **officers of the law** and a deep reform of what they consider an "undignified military career". Another point of friction is the cancellation of personnel's leave without adequate explanation. The urgency of these improvements is clear in a situation the association considers unsustainable.