Stéphane Burgatt (correspondent in Marseille), edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Nicolas TUCAT / AFP 7:36 p.m., January 18, 2024

Police unions called for a “Black Thursday” to request special measures with a view to their mobilization for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In Marseille, a few dozen gathered symbolically in calm to express their concern, in particular regarding the custody of their children.

There were a few dozen of them who gathered symbolically, in peace, at the top of the steps of the Saint-Charles station in Marseille, for a “Black Thursday”.

As in other large cities in France, the police are requesting special measures in view of their exceptional mobilization for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and sharing their concern and their discontent.

“This big blur has lasted long enough,” denounces Sébastien Grèneron, of the Alliance union, who does not understand that so many questions remain unanswered six months before the world event of the year.

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“It’s a mess, it’s worry, we don’t know anything,” he says at the microphone of Europe 1. “The Olympic Games are fast approaching for us in Bouches-du-Rhône, on May 8, with the Olympic flame leaving our home, and we still don't know the conditions in which we will have to work. We are being told about restrictions, leave, we have no answer. How are we going to do it? make us look after our children?”, asks the trade unionist.

The problem of child care

This situation concerns, for example, Guillaume, a police officer, as does his wife, who points to custody problems.

“We have children who are not yet old enough to stay at home alone. We would like to have guarantees, but no, we have no guidelines,” he says, wondering if he and his partner “will be mobilized in (their) services, to reinforce other services”.

“On an operation planned for a long time, it seems to me that we should have answers,” shares this police officer with Europe 1.

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This is why elected officials from the Alliance union hope to get the money, an exceptional bonus of 2,000 euros, and say they are ready to increase actions and toughen their tone if these issues are not quickly resolved.