Montreal police must remove protest stickers from cruisers, buildings: arbitrator

An arbitration tribunal has ordered Montreal police to remove the protest stickers from their cruisers and stations.

READ MORE: Quebec pension tensions on the rise

Arbitrator Nathalie Faucher issued her ruling Dec. 29, refusing the Fraternité des policiers et des policières de Montréal (FPPM)’s arguments of freedom of expression.

Rather, the report claims the stickers are acts of vandalism of public property.

“The [police] brotherhood is responsible for damages caused by the stickers, which are on property owned or rented by the city,” the document states.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The [police] brotherhood is responsible for damages caused by the stickers, which are on property owned or rented by the city," the document states.

IN PHOTOS: Municipal workers protest pension reform

The red decals have adorned the police vehicles and buildings since summer 2014, as workers and the province drew battle lines over a proposed reform of municipal pensions.

READ MORE: Montreal police camo pants are here to stay – for now

The government’s Bill 3 had proposed a 50-50 split between municipalities and unionized workers on contributions and future deficits.

The tribunal does not mention if police officers must stop wearing their camouflage pants.

rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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