(Image Source: CNN)

BY ORLA O'MUIRI

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS


Police in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro have begun a ten day strike over low salaries --- just less than two weeks before the city is due to host its legendary Carnival. 
The BBC reports.
 

“Rio have voted to strike over pay and conditions just a week before the city’s annual carnival begins. The government have approved a thirty nine per cent pay rise over the next two years for police, personal guards and firefighters but officers claim they want double that."

Thousands gathered in Rio Friday morning for a six-hour demonstration. The strike is expected to spread to several more of Brazil’s cities and states in the coming days. The Guardian explains the reason behind the disruption.
 

“Police in Rio face one of the toughest jobs in the country – tackling heavily armed gangs in the city's many sprawling slums – they are among the worst-paid, with salaries starting at $964 (£612) a month.”
 

The impact of the strikes are yet to be felt, but with Carnival celebrations typically attracting more than 800,000 tourists and bringing millions of dollars to the Brazilian economy, it’s not a risk many Brazilians are willing to take.

Although officaials are adamant the show will go on, many vistors have already cancelled their trips.
 

Brazil will also play host to the championship matches of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. They must wait and see if this disruption will have any consequences on a global scale.