Amsterdam asks court to stop enforcers' King's Day strike

The municipality of Amsterdam is going to court in an attempt to prevent a strike by enforcement officers on King's Day. The enforcers plan to strike between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday. But according to the municipality, King's Day is not the appropriate time for this action, NOS reports.

Enforcers' union NBB wants to use the strike to force the municipality to give enforcement officers better equipment to defend themselves against aggression. Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema already agreed to equip enforcement officers with bodycams, but the enforcers also want a baton, handcuffs and pepper spray. Both Halsema and the police previously said they were against arming enforcers.

"We have not heard a single argument from the mayor and minister as to why we should not use additional means of force", a spokesperson for NBB said, according to NOS. "Our people are skilled and there is a necessity."

On Tuesday morning the enforcement officers campaigned on Dam Square in Amsterdam. That action was followed by a conversation between the enforcers and the municipality, but that did not result in the strike being canceled. 

The municipality can not agree with a strike on King's Day, which is a very busy day in Amsterdam and during which the police are dependent on cooperation with enforcement officers. The city therefore took the matter to court. The court in Amsterdam will rule on Friday.