The two-week police strike that led to widespread chaos in Salvador, Bahia is over, police are back on patrol and conditions have returned to normal, but the threat of strikes remains in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and other areas. The danger is so grave that the government is contemplating creating a special army force for emergencies to replace striking police. The strikes occur because police are paid notoriously low wages that prevent them from rising above slum living unless they succumb to corruption. The Salvador strike was resolved after police were granted a 21 percent pay increase. Follow news reports on pending strikes and consider deferring travel to areas where such actions occur.
