AFP officers are ‘furious’ over pay deal, many considering leaving
The police union has revealed why AFP officers have been given a dramatic end-of-year message amid concerns over pay and conditions.
National
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Overworked and underpaid Australian Federal Police officers are being told not to pick up calls or emails from their bosses recalling them to duty while they are on leave.
The dramatic end-of year-message from the police union comes as it can be revealed staff are furious with their latest pay deal — and many are considering jumping ship to private enterprise.
The AFP Association has advised members they have zero obligation to answer work phones or emails asking them to return to work, unless they are being given “an appropriate allowance”.
AFPA President Alex Caruana has also called on AFP executives to pay officers properly, as required under the employment agreement, if they must be recalled for urgent duty.
Otherwise they should be resting and recuperating
“But the AFP (hierarchy) see it as keep your phone on. That means don’t drink, don’t go to the coast with the family just in case you are needed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the latest staff survey by the union shows 70 per cent of officers had considered leaving the AFP in the past 12 months and 20 per cent of those wanted to join state police forces.
The survey of 1700 members shows almost 20 per cent are looking at going to private industry – particularly banks which pay salaries of up to $250,000 for risk and security assessors.
Ninety per cent said they would reject the 11.2 per cent pay rise which has been offered to public servants. The AFPA had been pushing for 20 per cent for police.
“Many of the reasons for wanting to leave including not having to look over your shoulder to see if someone is trying to stab them,” Mr Caruana said,
“They can earn twice as much elsewhere. They are always like a coiled spring. Hyper vigilant and they never switch off.”
AFP officers are the lowest paid police in the country according to the AFPA, while the Commissioner, Reece Kershaw, is the highest paid police commissioner on more than $760,000 – about $100,000 more than his counterparts in Vic, Qld and NSW who command forces three times the size of the AFP.
The Greens Justice spokesman, Senator David Shoebridge, said there is a serious imbalance that needs to be addressed.
“How is it that the AFP Commissioner is the highest paid in the country and the frontline staff are the lowest paid?” Senator Shoebridge asked.
“It needs to be sorted out at both ends.”
An AFP spokeswoman said the Commissioner’s salary is set by the Remuneration Tribunal. She acknowledged the base salary of entry level AFP police officers is considered lower than some other policing jurisdictions.
She also said the AFP has held constructive enterprise bargaining meetings with employee representatives.and any members recalled to duty from leave receive allowances.
The AFPA has been fighting for a bigger pay rise arguing the 11.2 per cent given to public servants was designed to include flexible work from home arrangements and not having to pay for petrol and parking
“But how can my (AFP) members stop a pedophile while working at home or stop a bullet in the face to the prime minister from their lounge room?” he asked.
“We are not a militant union but if we need to initiate industrial action we will.”
Mr Caruana said pay disparity was so bad and it started with recruits.
He said he believes Commissioner Kershaw has outdated information about recruits.
“His recruitment pipeline is not as big as he thinks it is.
“It is not long before the AFP faces a real crisis.”
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