Dutch police to only respond to emergencies next weekend

The Dutch police unions are calling on their members to only respond to emergency reports in the weekend of September 14th to 16th, and to perform no other of their duties. This forms part of long ongoing labor actions for a better collective bargaining agreement for the police, NOS reports.

This is the most severe labor action ever taken by the police, a spokesperson for the unions said to NOS. "But we have to take this step. If noting changes now, we will soon not be able to be there when citizens need us." The action will have major consequences, according to the unions.

The emergency room call centers will remain accessible. The police will respond to emergency reports, which includes violent crimes and life-threatening situation, but not reports of nuisance or neighbor quarrels.

Police unions ACP, ANPV, NPB and VMHP have been protesting for a better collective bargaining agreement for weeks. They want a wage increase and lower workload for their members. In July the unions rejected an offer made by Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus of Justice and Security and police chief Erik Akerboom. The offer included a wage increase of 7 percent over two years. But according to the unions, wages must increase structurally by 8 percent and the offer did not include any solutions for the high workload.