Gatineau police officers who have been wearing street clothes with their uniforms as part of a labour dispute have agreed to don full gear to cross to the Ottawa side of the river, a union spokesperson says.

Jean-Pierre Bussière, a spokesperson for the union, the Fraternité des Policiers et Policières de Gatineau, said officers agreed Thursday to leave their plainclothes protest at the provincial border.

Gatineau police have been without a collective agreement for more than two years and, in protest, have been wearing cargo pants and khakis instead of police-issue slacks.

Two years ago, Ottawa police Chief Vern White told the officers that they had to wear their full uniforms while working in Ottawa, but until now, officers have continued to wear only parts of their uniform — whether they've been working in Gatineau or Ottawa.

On Thursday, nearly 150 Gatineau officers were sworn in at the Elgin Street police station, which gives them the authority to work, if needed, in Ottawa.

The officers appeared at the ceremony in jeans and polo shirts rather than their uniforms.

The swearing-in ceremony happens each year, but this year, White spoke to the officers to make sure they knew why he wanted them to conform to the uniform dress code in Ottawa.

"Gang members don't see that as a border, they see it as a bridge," White said.

"So our officers need to see it as the same thing."

White said police officers wearing only half of their regular uniforms aren't always identified immediately, which can create safety concerns.

Unless they're involved in a police chase or doing work that doesn't require a full uniform, he said, all officers are expected to adhere to the code.