The Independent Police Union (NPA) is updating its official website to provide police officers with clear, reliable and up‑to‑date information about their employment rights, social guarantees and the support offered by the union. Our goal is to ensure that every police officer — regardless of position or service rank — knows their rights and can confidently exercise them in practice.
Validity of the collective agreement between NPA and the State Police
NPA confirms that the collective agreement between NPA and the State Police, signed on 19 October 2006, remains in force. Despite public statements from the State Police, the agreement has not lost its legal effect.
Under Articles 19 and 20 of the Labour Law, the provisions of a collective agreement:
- remain in force if a new agreement has not been concluded;
- continue to bind both parties even after the original term has expired;
- cannot be terminated unilaterally.
Since no new collective agreement has been concluded, the 2006 agreement remains fully valid.
Full text of the collective agreement (PDF):
📄 Open the NPA–State Police collective agreement (2006, PDF)
Police officers and trade unions
Police officers, including officials with special service ranks, have the right to join trade unions and to be represented in employment, social and legal matters.
ILO Convention No. 98 allows certain exceptions for specific state institutions, however Latvia has not introduced restrictions on police officers’ right to join a union. Therefore, the rights and guarantees provided by the collective agreement apply both to employees under employment contracts and to officials with special service ranks.
Disciplinary practice
The State Police is required to follow an established disciplinary practice that ensures a fair and transparent process. This includes:
- the involvement of a union representative in disciplinary proceedings;
- compliance with procedures set out in the collective agreement and laws;
- the right to challenge any action that violates the agreement or is not coordinated with the union.
NPA emphasises that police officers have the right to professional, lawful and transparent treatment in all employment and disciplinary matters.