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Rabat – As the 2024 Paris Olympics is fast approaching, French authorities find themselves in a race against time to negotiate pay deals with various public sector trade unions, including police.
Hundreds of officers gathered near the police headquarters in Paris, chanting, “The Olympics will be without us,” France 24 reported.
The unions, representing police officers and other essential services, are demanding bonuses for their members working during the Olympic Games between July 26 and August 11.
Head of the Alliance Police National union Fabien Vanhemelryck warned that the protests were just the beginning if their demands were unmet. The unions seek compensation of up to 2,000 euros ($2,200) for their members, citing lost holidays and additional work during the summer Games.
Protests were not confined to Paris, as around forty police officers disrupted traffic at the Europe Bridge in Strasbourg, while police strikes caused delays at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
Unions have urged officers to show “minimum activity” on a designated “Black Thursday” of protests.
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Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, in an attempt to address the situation, met with police representatives on Monday. Sources “close to the negotiations” revealed a fund of around 500 million euros allocated for the Games, AFP reported.
The stakes are high for France, as the upcoming competition is its first Olympics hosted in a century.
However, the unrest among public sector workers poses a significant challenge. Pay negotiations are underway with health workers, transportation staff, and municipal employees.
Many state employees are banned from taking holidays during the Games, with tens of thousands expected to work extra hours on weekends and late nights, according to French media.
The potential impact the controversy may have on Olympic Games’ image is a cause for concern. France’s recent history of “Yellow Vest” protests in 2018, massive strikes against pension reform, and urban riots in June has created a negative perception.
Approximately 30,000 police officers are expected to be on duty during the competition, which coincides with the peak of the summer holiday period in France.
