Police to protest at Tour de France by slowing down race

The police unions are planning protest actions during the two Tour de France stages that are taking place in the Netherlands, news agency ANP reports. These actions form part of the police's 15 week long protests for better a collective bargaining agreement. On Saturday, July 4th, the police will delay the prologue, which is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m., by cycling on the bike trial between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. On Sunday, July 5th, the police will delay the start of the second stage by performing a traffic check on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. The police will pull over the publicity caravan that rides ahead of the cyclists and check it.  ACP chairman Gerrit van de Kamp announced this on behalf of the police unions. According to a letter the unions sent to Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice, the traffic check on the Erasmus bridge will only stop once it has been live broadcast on radio and television that the Tour de France riders have been stopped due to a police action for better a better collective bargaining agreement. Should the Tour de France organizers decide to change the route or timing of the two stages, the police will likewise change their actions. "Through this action we want to get our point across world wide." Van de Kamp said. "With this action we have the eyes of the world focused on us and everyone will be able to see what is happening here in the Netherlands around the police." The unions have been performing protests for 15 weeks for a better collective bargaining agreement for the police but so far without result. In addition to a 3.3 percent wage increase, the unions also want other measures, such as a bonus for the radical reorganization currently happening in the police. Police officers have not had a salary increase in 4 years.