Police unions take Belgian state to court over social conflict with government | Interior

In January last year, two unions – NSPV and VSOA – reached a conditional agreement with Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) about a pay increase for police personnel. The existing end-of-career scheme (system of non-activity before retirement, NAVAP) was also confirmed.

During the federal budget review, the unions said they were told by the government that there is no money to pay the wage increase in one go. The “paltry” wage increase would be spread over a period of three years. In addition, the NAVAP system turned out to be placed in a phase-out scenario, “even without any negotiation”, contrary to agreements already made in 2015.

During new consultations with the government, Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open Vld) – together with Verlinden, Minister of Guardianship of the Police – argued that he never signed any protocol with the unions and that his legal representative did not have the mandate to do so in his place. to do. It would be reason for the unions to repeatedly take action against the minister, including at party meetings of the Flemish liberals.

NSPV, VSOA and ACV fundamentally disagree with Van Quickenborne’s vision and feel strengthened by a lawyer who confirms their point of view. That is why they are now going to court to “put the government’s unlawful conduct before the Belgian judiciary for non-compliance with its contractual obligation (…) and for its non-contractual liability for its non-serious conduct in the negotiation”.

The case will be brought before the French-speaking court of first instance in Brussels tomorrow.