‘ME strikes Sunday at corona demonstration Amsterdam’ | Inland
The riot police – prepared in silence and not yet announced – was honored by Dagblad van het Noorden during the work stoppage of the aliens police in Ter Apel on Tuesday. Vice-chairman Albert Springer of the Dutch Police Association (NPB) called the strike. On Tuesday Ter Apel, the four police unions kicked off a series of police actions throughout the country in the run-up to negotiations on a new police collective labor agreement.
“This is just the beginning,” says Mahmut Kaptan, leader of the actions in the Northern Netherlands. He is militant after the union meeting – a work stoppage of a few hours – in which the sixty employees of the aliens police told how they are burdened by the much too high work pressure.
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It affects all departments within the police apparatus in the Netherlands, he and Springer say. Measures must be taken to be able to carry out in an acceptable and healthy manner. “We have no confidence in the minister Grapperhaus of political The Hague coming to meet us.”
According to the action leaders, the dire situation justifies harsh actions such as Sunday by the riot police in Amsterdam, which could have detailed consequences for public order and safety in the capital. Mayor Femke Halsema wants the riot police to be present at full strength to prevent the demonstration from getting out of hand. Amsterdam is anticipating a large turnout and the riot police and the Museumplein ‘clean geneve’ in previous protests about the lockdown and corona vaccination.
‘We are waiting’
Springer expects the Amsterdam mayor to go to court to request an injunction for the strike of the two total of sixteen vans with eight riot police each. “We are waiting.” The unions wanted to announce the action on Thursday, in time for summary proceedings. Mayor Halsema is awaiting an official announcement and will leave an initial response to the police, her statement reported on Tuesday.
Just like in Terpel, the interests hold a meeting where the police employees can present their grievances on Sunday and succeed. Where the strikers meet this time, Springer keeps to himself for a while. “If it’s up to us, the riot police is not at work for a few hours on Sunday afternoon. The moment of the drop in the bucket has arrived. The mayor is responsible for public order and safety and must solve it. Who knows, she may ask the military for support.”
The pre-announced strike can be protesters at riots, play into the hands. The hard action has therefore not been an easy decision, says Springer. “Police officers are loyal to their work. As unions, we really had to pull this action. We’d rather not do it either, but there’s no other way.”