Police union a step closer to wage deal after members’ poll supports accepting offer

The police union is a step closer to a new wage deal with Victoria Police after an industrial stand-off lasting more than 18 months.

On Thursday, Victoria’s Police Association conducted an informal poll of members regarding the latest wage proposal.

Victoria Police and its officers are in a long-running dispute over pay.Credit: Eddie Jim

An internal memo of the poll, seen by this masthead, said “13,333 members voted, with 67 per cent indicating they would endorse the revised wages proposal”.

“A clear majority of members indicated that they would support an Enterprise Agreement in the terms outlined,” the memo states.

The deal would secure frontline officers a 5 per cent increase every year for four years, and 4.5 per cent for other members.

It would also end the current policy which enables retiring police to be paid out up to one year’s salary for unused sick leave.

A formal vote by police union members is needed for the offer to be accepted.Credit: Paul Rovere

Victoria Police said it had accepted the Fair Work Commissioner’s recommendations regarding the deal and that the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement would soon be finalised, to be followed by an offer put to an official union member vote.

“We believe this offer delivers deserved financial recognition for the amazing job our police and protective services officers do,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

A spokesperson for union said: “The Police Association has notified the Fair Work Commission that we accept its recommendation regarding the EBA.

“We will engage with Victoria Police tomorrow in furtherance of a Heads of Agreement and a subsequent formal ballot of members.”

A new pay deal is expected to be made formal in the coming weeks. Credit: Paul Rovere

A formal vote by union members is needed, which is expected in coming weeks, and protected industrial action will continue until the agreement is formalised and signed.

The Police Association was originally demanding a 24 per cent pay rise over four years.

Industrial action from police has grown increasingly brazen recently, and has included slogans on police vehicles criticising the state government for failing to manage its finances and make more money available for a better offer.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines said police always deserved a pay rise that reflects the challenging work they do.

Minister for Police Anthony Carbines outside Parliament House last year.Credit: Eddie Jim

“We thank the parties and the [Fair Work] Commission for their work in reaching this point and hope it will be endorsed by members as quickly as possible so they can feel the benefits of this deal,” he said.

This month, Victoria Police began investigating the unauthorised use of a helicopter to disrupt the deputy premier’s press conference in an apparent escalation of the pay dispute.

Ben Carroll was addressing the media at a childcare centre in Werribee on Tuesday when a police helicopter began circling overhead. He moved the press conference after police also pulled up in cars with messages scrawled on the windows criticising the government’s stance on the pay dispute.

The decision to deploy the helicopter was made by a police union delegate, not the force. It costs $10,000 an hour to operate the helicopter.

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