French Police Protest Demanding Better Payments And Condition During Upcoming Olympics Games (image: representational @ Pixabay)
French police are observing a “Black Thursday” of work stoppages and demonstrations demanding better payment and conditions during the upcoming Olympic Games. Led by two largest police unions, namely Alliance and Unsa Police, several police unions demand that there should be bonuses of up to €2,000 ($1,720), and guarantees of holiday leave and childcare support for the police during this summer.
The protest came after one inion of police received details from the interior ministry which suggested that every police officer in France would be mobilised during the two weeks of the Olympics, which will be from July 24 to August 11, and will not be allowed to take holidays during that period.
The country police officers will be allowed total of 10 days leave between June 15 and September 15, but they otherwise must be on duty. Many regional police expect to be relocated to Paris as part of the Olympics Games and want assurance on housing and working hours.
On Wednesday January 17, police officers on duty started to mobilise outside some stations. Unions have voiced for “minimum activity” on Thursday, and responding to calls, including emergencies, but not going out on standard patrols.
Sylvian Andre, from Alliance police union told France Inter that, “Today there is still no detail except that 100 % of police will be working July 24 to August 11 and we know a local contingent will be moved from Strasbourg to Paris, about 30% of staffs. So we want measures on childcare, because colleagues have children to look after; it will be the school holidays”, as quoted by The Guardian.
Source from France’s Interion Minister Gerald Darmanin’s entourage told AP news agency that the support measures for the police would be finalised by the end of this month. It was also added that talks on remuneration and help with childcare had been “constructive”. The Alliance union of police said that the action on Thursday was a first step and there could be more actions as the negotiations on the demands continue.
