By means of: Hanneke Marcelis
1 hour ago
112 Reports
BERGEN OP ZOOM – The police unions are calling on officers not to issue fines for minor violations from today. The police team in Breda responds to this. This is a protest action because the police unions want to negotiate a new Early Retirement Scheme (RVU).
At the beginning of this year, the police unions issued an ultimatum that negotiations on a new Early Retirement Scheme (RVU) had to start before May 7. But that didn’t happen. “Today we call on all police officers in the Netherlands to stop issuing fines for minor violations. This is absolutely necessary. The ultimatum to the minister expired today. So from today we are all in action throughout the Netherlands,” said Maarten Brink on behalf of the police unions.
Warning instead of fine
So anyone who commits a minor offense today, such as cycling without lights, will probably not receive a fine. Instead, officers provide a receipt with the wish for a safe day and brief information about the protest. “It seems necessary that decision-makers and policymakers not only hear but also feel. Where it hurts them most: in their pockets.”
Officers choose whether they participate in the campaign, and therefore decide whether to issue a ticket. Basic team Weerijs, which is active in Breda, Etten-Leur and Zundert, has announced via “It goes without saying that every officer decides, depending on the circumstances, whether or not to issue a fine, or whether to suffice with a warning in the context of the police action to maintain the RVU,” according to Basic Team Weerijs.
There is no ultimatum or end date associated with this action step. “In other words: we will continue until we see results. If necessary, we will increase the pressure further and the tone of the actions will become even tougher. But we will continue until the government and Dutch employers also understand it has become clear that a decent RVU is nothing more than normal. We are entitled to that due to our efforts and the seriousness of our profession. And so it must be achieved,” the police unions said.
