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On the 7 January 2006 the
Police Trade Union of Latvia, Latvijas Apvienota Policistu arodbiedriba
(LAPA), was officially founded.
The road for police officers to being allowed to form a police union in
Latvia was by no means an easy one.
As part of the support campaign for Latvian colleagues in their long
struggle to form a union, February 2005 saw EuroCOP specifically
organising a large conference in Latvia, which was then the only EU Member
State where police officers did not have the right to professional
representation.
In the months that followed the conference there was continued pressure on
the Latvian Government. In April 2005, negotiations with the government
finally had a positive result for police officers with the permission to
form a police union in Latvia being given.
Since its initial preliminary foundation in April 2005 the Latvian
government has recognised the police union as a negotiation partner and
has involved them in a number of working groups addressing national
policing matters.
Currently, LAPA, with Mr Agris SUNA as President, is the only organisation
in Latvia protecting rights and interests of police officers in Latvia.
Already in November 2005, while still in its founding process the Police
Trade Union of Latvia became Associate Members of EuroCOP. This signifies
an important step to strengthen the development towards an independent
representative organisation that police officers in Latvia can rely upon.
The final foundation of the Union only two months later is a great
achievement of those who have worked towards this goal over the years in
Latvia.
With EuroCOP, LAPA will continue to have a reliable partner for the
future.
LAPA, Latvia website: www.lpb.lv
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