Icelandic authorities fear foreign dignitaries set to visit Iceland in the next weeks will be left without adequate local police escort, as officers are suspected of planning to call in sick on the days in question. Both Francois Hollande, the President of France, and David Cameron, prime minister of Britain, could be left without a proper local police escort
Solidarity-flu and mass purchases of doughnuts instead of strike action
In the past few weeks Icelandic police have employed innovative and unconventional methods to draw attention to their demands for wage increases. Among the methods used by officers is a so-called Friday- or Solidarity-flu, where large numbers of regular officers call in sick on Fridays, effectively paralyzing the operations of the Police. Another tactic used in the past include all police officers doing paperwork at the same time, thus leaving the streets, overly thorough routine checks of motorists and a mass visit to the Dunkin Donuts on Laugavegur street in Reykjavík.
Read more:Metropolitan Police lay siege to local Dunkin Donuts
Police Officers in Iceland are not allowed to strike, which is why they have to use ingenious ways to get the government to improve their salaries. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that the Ministry of Finance claims to have knowledge the actions are coordinated, nobody within the police has been willing to confirm this. The rumour is that the Police officers will continue to get stricken by the solidarity-flu every Friday until they see proposals from the government on increased pay.
Heads of state left with inadequate police protection?
Next Friday Francois Hollande, the French president, is set to have an official visit to Iceland. Visiting heads of state are allowed to bring their own armed bodyguards with them, but local police always plays an important role during such visits, ensuring their security. If the Icelandic police force will be hit by an unexpected one day long flu epidemic it could cause some problems for Mr Hollande. Local security is crucial, as foreign security guards do not know local conditions, nor do they speak the language.
In the coming weeks more official visits of foreign leaders are scheduled to visit Iceland. David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Britain and the prime ministers of the Nordic countries and the Baltic countries will attend the Northern Future Forum on 28 October. Although 28 October is a Thursday it is feared the Friday Solidarity-flu might cause problems.
Icelandic authorities fear foreign dignitaries set to visit Iceland in the next weeks will be left without adequate local police escort, as officers are suspected of planning to call in sick on the days in question. Both Francois Hollande, the President of France, and David Cameron, prime minister of Britain, could be left without a proper local police escort
Solidarity-flu and mass purchases of doughnuts instead of strike action
In the past few weeks Icelandic police have employed innovative and unconventional methods to draw attention to their demands for wage increases. Among the methods used by officers is a so-called Friday- or Solidarity-flu, where large numbers of regular officers call in sick on Fridays, effectively paralyzing the operations of the Police. Another tactic used in the past include all police officers doing paperwork at the same time, thus leaving the streets, overly thorough routine checks of motorists and a mass visit to the Dunkin Donuts on Laugavegur street in Reykjavík.
Read more:Metropolitan Police lay siege to local Dunkin Donuts
Police Officers in Iceland are not allowed to strike, which is why they have to use ingenious ways to get the government to improve their salaries. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that the Ministry of Finance claims to have knowledge the actions are coordinated, nobody within the police has been willing to confirm this. The rumour is that the Police officers will continue to get stricken by the solidarity-flu every Friday until they see proposals from the government on increased pay.
Heads of state left with inadequate police protection?
Next Friday Francois Hollande, the French president, is set to have an official visit to Iceland. Visiting heads of state are allowed to bring their own armed bodyguards with them, but local police always plays an important role during such visits, ensuring their security. If the Icelandic police force will be hit by an unexpected one day long flu epidemic it could cause some problems for Mr Hollande. Local security is crucial, as foreign security guards do not know local conditions, nor do they speak the language.
In the coming weeks more official visits of foreign leaders are scheduled to visit Iceland. David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Britain and the prime ministers of the Nordic countries and the Baltic countries will attend the Northern Future Forum on 28 October. Although 28 October is a Thursday it is feared the Friday Solidarity-flu might cause problems.
