Laval police union holds raucous demonstration outside city council meeting

Laval police union members held a demonstration outside of a city council meeting as negotiations continue on a collective bargaining agreement.

Police in Laval say they are frustrated with the slow pace of contract negotiations and held a raucous demonstration outside a city council meeting on Tuesday evening.

The members said they wanted to express their discontent to the city’s elected officials.

“Our members are feeling abandoned,” said Laval police (SPL) Brotherhood President Sylvain Tardif. “They want their municipality to be there for them. Our job is more complex nowadays. We have a lot of guns in the streets.”

The brotherhood said there are other actions planned.

Last month, officers began wearing jeans or camouflage pants instead of their regular uniforms while on the job.

The City of Laval has filed a request for mediation, which the police union has criticized.

All the same, the city argued that the parties have been active and negotiating in good faith.

“It was to keep the talks moving forward that the city applied for mediation,” the city said in a statement. “This gesture testifies to the city’s determination to keep things moving forward.”

The officers’ collective agreement expired on Jan. 1, 2024, and the union said negotiations are “stalling” even after an intensive phase last spring.

The city said it submitted its first offer in June and negotiations have continued since then.

“The city is committed to finding a negotiated solution, and recourse to mediation is part of this approach,” Laval officials said.