Victorian police on the verge of industrial action

Date
    October 18, 2015
    The Age

Victorian police could launch widespread industrial action within days in frustration at their failure to hammer out a new pay deal.   

A mass meeting of police officers has been scheduled for Thursday, in which members will vote on a raft of work bans.

Actions aimed at hurting the state government could include a ban on issuing penalty notices, such as speed camera fines, a ban on unpaid overtime or voluntary attendance at court and bans on completing some paperwork.

Police Association of Victoria secretary Ron Iddles told Channel 7 the association is seeking a five per cent annual pay increase as well as penalty rates on weekends and public holidays, as awarded to police in other states.

"We've now been negotiating for five months at the bargaining table and to date there has been no offer other than 2.5 per cent, and for our members that's insulting," he said.   

"Today is Sunday, most people are home with their family and doing something with their loved ones.

"Right behind me in this police station are members serving the community, putting their lives on the line.

"Put a reasonable offer on the table and let's start talking seriously."

The Police Association campaign includes the launch of dramatic television commercials reflecting an "average day" for frontline police, demanding the state government "pay our police what they deserve".

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Victoria Police and the Association are meeting weekly to work through a large number of issues in relation to the new EBA. The current EBA expires on November 30.

"Victoria Police is committed to delivering an EBA that supports improved service delivery, productivity and flexibility," she said.

"We are also committed to ensuring we fairly reward our hard working members."

The spokeswoman said contingency plans would be put in place to ensure continued service delivery.

A state government spokeswoman said the Andrews government highly values the hard work and dedication of the state's police officers.

"We won't be pre-empting any outcomes, but remain committed to bargaining in good faith so that our hard-working policemen and women are treated with respect and the best outcome for the Victorian community is achieved."

If you don't want to work weekends, don't.

Quote:


Don't join the police force, (or any job that may require you to work non-normal hours) then if you don't like working on weekends, and public on holidays.

Swagman wrote on Oct 19^th, 2015 at 11:20am:

--> do you know how many days off a year the police get for stress ???

BatteriesNotIncluded wrote on Oct 19^th, 2015 at 12:00pm:



Part of the reason people take on these jobs is to provide service to the public, and part of the deal is that for doing those odd hours etc they will be rewarded with proper pay rates.

I don't see any argument otherwise.

You think firies love twelve hour shifts and dangerous situations, same as cops?  You think nurses love handling the blood and the pain of injured and sick people?  All of these jobs are 24/7 - why should they not be adequately compensated?

If that is the case for these occupations - where is this argument for chopping away at all other occupations?  Down the toilet.....

Thanks for coming......