Demonstrators wearing yellow vests face riot police officers amid tear gas during a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Biarritz, southwestern France, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Yellow vest protesters occupied dozens of traffic roundabouts across France even as their movement for economic justice appeared to be losing momentum on the fifth straight weekend of protests. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) - Seeking to soothe police forces demanding improved working conditions, the French government on Tuesday proposed giving 300-euro ($340) bonuses to officers deployed to the aggressive and disruptive protests that started last month.
French President Emmanuel Macron committed to the idea of protest duty pay earlier this month. The government's offer came a day after two police unions announced work slowdowns to protest staffing and other budget issues.
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner was to meet with police union representatives later Tuesday. It wasn't clear if the proposed premiums would calm the growing anger in police ranks.
"We are not for sale and we can't be bought. It's certainly not with this bonus that the crisis will be resolved," said Yves Lefebvre, of the Unite-SG Police FO union.
According to government figures, the bonus will be paid to 111,000 police officers and military personal and will cost 33 million euros ($37.5 million.) The National Assembly is expected to debate it during discussions on the 2019 budget.
Instead of a bonus, police unions are asking for the payment of thousands of hours of unpaid overtime work that has accumulated over the years.
The Alliance union urged the government to invest in rebuilding the country's police forces while calling for a work slowdown Wednesday. Alliance is encouraging police forces to stay inside their stations and only to respond to emergency calls.
The unions also have complained about what they said are strained resources as officers have been sent in to clear road blockades and to control trouble-makers at street demonstrations over the past month.
The yellow vest protests, named after the fluorescent safety vests French motorists must carry, started last month over rising fuel prices. They since have morphed into a mass show of dissatisfaction involving pensioners, people without jobs and small business owners.
The UNSA union threatened to mimic yellow vests protests and to occupy roundabouts if its demands were not met.
Riot police officers secure the area during a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Biarritz, southwestern France, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Yellow vest protesters occupied dozens of traffic roundabouts across France even as their movement for economic justice appeared to be losing momentum on the fifth straight weekend of protests. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
Policemen stand guard during a demonstration of students in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. France's interior minister is to meet with representatives of police unions, following complaints about working conditions and calls for a work slowdown over what unions say are strained resources after five straight weekends of sometimes violent protests. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Yellow vests protesters watch riot police officers securing the area during a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Biarritz, southwestern France, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Yellow vest protesters occupied dozens of traffic roundabouts across France even as their movement for economic justice appeared to be losing momentum on the fifth straight weekend of protests. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
A policeman stands guard during a demonstration of students in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. France's interior minister is to meet with representatives of police unions, following complaints about working conditions and calls for a work slowdown over what unions say are strained resources after five straight weekends of sometimes violent protests. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Policemen stand guard during a demonstration of students in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. France's interior minister is to meet with representatives of police unions, following complaints about working conditions and calls for a work slowdown over what unions say are strained resources after five straight weekends of sometimes violent protests. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Policemen stand guard during a demonstration of students in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. France's interior minister is to meet with representatives of police unions, following complaints about working conditions and calls for a work slowdown over what unions say are strained resources after five straight weekends of sometimes violent protests. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Policemen guard a demonstration of students in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. France's interior minister is to meet with representatives of police unions, following complaints about working conditions and calls for a work slowdown over what unions say are strained resources after five straight weekends of sometimes violent protests. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Policemen stand guard during a demonstration of students in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. France's interior minister is to meet with representatives of police unions, following complaints about working conditions and calls for a work slowdown over what unions say are strained resources after five straight weekends of sometimes violent protests. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press