Justice Min.: No more concessions in police contract dispute

Minister Ard van der Steur of Security and Justice will not be making any further concessions to the police unions' demands for a better collective bargaining agreement. According to the Minister, the government has already "fully taken its responsibility". He wrote this in a letter to the police unions, RTL Nieuws reports, calling the unions' stronger protest actions "too early". Van der Steur also wrote that he finds it "incomprehensible" that the unions refuse to cooperate and calls on them to start a discussion. "I urge you to stop your collective action and after consultation again enter a discussion with me, so that we can use our collective energy to achieve a good collective bargaining agreement. Labor conditions can only be created at the negotiating table. I repeat here my invitation to resume negotiations at any time." The police unions have been protesting for a better collective bargaining agreement for months. On Monday they launched a seven week action during which police officers will only respond to emergency calls. They also have strikes planned around eight of the nine football matches in the premier league. Earlier this week the municipality of The Hague announced that the match between Ado and PSV on Saturday will be cancelled if the police strike goes through.