Police slow to collect fines as contract negotiations begin

On Saturday police union ACP gave minister Ivo Opstelten (Security and Justice) time until yesterday Sunday 18:00 to come up with "convincing commitments" for new police collective bargaining agreements, NU reports. If this doesn't happen, the police will turn to collective actions. The unions are demanding a wage increase of 3.3 percent as well as other measures, such as a bonus in connection with the radical reorganization. On Friday Opstelten invited the police unions for new negotiations with a letter. But according to ACP, his letter neglects to mention policy on early retirement, new proposals for a raise and ways to ensure that the police work is safer. On Friday the minister stated that the unions' demands for a new collective bargaining agreement are not realistic. According to the AD, the police unions ACP, NPB, ANPV and VMHP have called on their members to only write fines for "gross violations" to public order and safety from today. In all other cases they should just give a warning.