The French police threatened today, Thursday, to disrupt airports during the Paris 2024 Olympics if their demands for bonuses and decent working conditions are not met. Law enforcement officers demonstrated in the French capital and elsewhere, calling for a response from the Ministry of the Interior regarding a special bonus request of 2,000 euros for the duration of the Olympics, along with guarantees for "special social measures" related to childcare during the summer.
Today, several police workers exercised their right to strike, alongside forensic workers and some administrative staff. Shafia Boutara from the Police Union Alliance told Reuters, amid demonstrations of police officers lighting blue torches in front of the Paris City Hall, "We will create a state of fear (if our demands are not met)." She added, "There will be more challenging measures. We will close the airports where it will take officers 25 minutes instead of three minutes to check passports. At that point, you will see the Paris airport manager pick up the phone and call the government."
Police officers had previously organized a protest in open-top buses across Paris to urge authorities to expedite discussions on working conditions and wages during the Olympic Games set for July 26 to August 11. Amid the national holiday season, the Olympics will add further pressure on workers across many sectors in Paris, alongside increasing security threats and a chronic shortage of police, hospital, and public transport personnel.
Approximately 30,000 officers and soldiers will be deployed to secure the opening ceremony on July 26, where around 500,000 people are expected to watch athletes and delegations sail down the Seine River. Michaël Finard, head of the forensic unit in the police, told Reuters, "The ministry needs to realize that there are 13 unions involved in this matter. We serve the state. We want the Olympics to be successful, but the authorities are ignoring our demands." He added, "We want people to come to Paris, Lille, Marseille, or Tahiti for a safe Olympics." Surfing competitions are set to be held in Tahiti.
