Thousands of Brazilian Federal troops are now trying to restore order in Salvador, capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia, after looters went wild.  Police had gone on strike Tuesday after talks to resolve a pay dispute broke down.

Looters flagrantly moved through streets, shops, and supermarkets in Salvador and other towns in the state without any police to stop them. Schools and universities were closed on Wednesday and the transportation union kept its drivers off the streets due to concerns for their drivers’ safety. 

The federal response to this strike was much quicker than it was at the outset of the police strike in Salvador in 2012, when more than 130 people were killed.  Avoiding a repeat of that kind of loss of life was reason enough for President Dilma Rousseff to act, mobilizing 2,500 troops.  The fact that Salvador will host six matches during the World Cup, beginning with a match between Spain and Netherlands on 13 June, is added incentive.

The Police Union has been in negotiations for nine months without an agreement.  They’re seeking that which was already approved by legislators in 1997 – raises, benefits, advancement – but hasn’t been implemented by local officials.  They earn less than A$1,200 per month.  That’s three times Brazil’s minimum wage, but still only A$1,200 per month.

“Officers work for 28 years and are never promoted,” Fabio Brito, vice president of the Police Union said.  “Where’s the incentive for them to work?”