Dutch police unions on Monday began a new round of industrial action in support of their pay claim, this time by only dealing with emergency calls.

This means officers will respond to calls involving serious physical violence, armed robberies and murder but not less urgent cases such as vandalism and noise nuisance, news agency ANP says.

The new campaign will last seven weeks, unless justice minister Ard van der Steur comes up with what the unions say is a ‘reasonable offer’. The unions are taking action on Monday this week and Monday and Tuesday next week, adding a full day until the entire seven days are covered.

The government has reached a deal with civil service unions for an offer which it says is worth 5.05% plus a €500 bonus. The police unions, however, say the deal is made up of a 2.85% rise over two years plus 2.2% from changes in the pension policy which may affect eventual pension payouts.

The police unions said last week they also plan to disrupt the start of the Dutch football season by striking during the coming weekend’s matches. The only match which will not be affected is the Feyenoord-Utrecht tie in Rotterdam on August 8.

However, on Monday The Hague city council said it was cancelling Saturday’s match between ADO Den Haag and PSV because of the lack of policing and risk to public order.