The recent general assembly of the SNPGL marked a shift from previous years, reflecting the changes within both the union and the national police structure. Since the last meeting, several key positions have seen new appointments, including the President of the SNPGL, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Director General of the police. In her closing speech, the SNPGL President expressed optimism, stating, “Our hope for transparency in dialogue with our leaders, which we have wished and demanded for years, seems to be coming true.”
The unions now holds monthly meetings with the new Director General, Pascal Peters, and have experienced improved communication with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Léon Gloden of the CSV. Since Gloden’s appointment, discussions regarding local police staffing have eased, with the SNPGL President, Marlène Negrini, praising his efforts: “Minister Gloden is providing the necessary staff. I thank him for that.”
However, the SNPGL continues to voice concerns, particularly around police reclassification through the ‘express route’. This career advancement path has been in limbo since a court decision halted it two years ago, affecting 200 officers.
“Nearly two years later, nothing has yet happened, and these people are still waiting to see how things will proceed,” noted Negrini. She also pointed out that additional officers have since become eligible for the B1 career path but remain in limbo.
The union also raised the issue of inadequate childcare support for officers working irregular hours. Regular daycare centres and after-school facilities do not cater to police officers’ shift schedules, particularly during nights, weekends, and public holidays. This gap was described as discriminatory against officers working shifts.
Moreover, the union criticised the current police bonus system, labelling it as unfair and in need of reform.
The general secretary of the SNPGL, Christian Hoffmann, reported that the union has 2,285 members, but recruiting young officers remains a challenge. He attributed this to the lack of access to trainee officers at the police school in recent years, suggesting that the union’s message has not been adequately communicated. “An improvement may be on the horizon with the new police leadership,” Hoffmann said, hopeful for future progress.
While the assembly praised Pascal Peters as “the right person in the right place” as Director General, the leadership team also faced a caution: they must acknowledge that “they get the police they create.”
