Victoria Police finally end industrial action and strike deal with Allan government
After nearly two years of increasingly hostile industrial action, Victoria Police are on the way to signing a full agreement with the state government.
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The police union has confirmed its long running industrial action has ended as it nears inking a new pay deal with the Allan government.
Frontline officers have staged increasingly hostile strike action in their almost two-year war for a better pay deal.
But a Police Association Victoria spokesperson said on Thursday it had now entered a Heads of Agreement with Victoria Police towards the compilation of a full agreement.
The agreement will now go to a formal vote of members.
“Industrial action taken by police and PSOs will cease in accordance with the Fair Work Act, while this process occurs,” he said.
Under the terms of the $450m deal police would lock in a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase over the next four years – 0.5 per cent more than the four per cent rejected by members last year.
Members could be seen erasing the slogans sprawled across many police vehicles at force headquarters on Spencer St.
“In theory,” one officer said when asked if a deal had been done.
Frontline police would also secure an additional 0.5 per cent, and would no longer be required to “kit up” outside of shift times.
The offer – which would cost the government an estimated $456m based on its current $3.2bn annual wages bill – is significantly less than the 6 per cent per year that was being sought by the police union.
It would also kill a “golden handshake” clause in the current agreement which allows retiring members to cash in up to 12 months accrued sick leave – a move estimated to save up to $50m a year.
If accepted by members the deal would end the almost two year pay dispute that sparked increasingly hostile industrial action.
It would also be hailed a major win for the government, and new treasurer Jaclyn Symes, given it would cost significantly less than the estimated $840m pay deal that was being sought by the police union.
That deal would also have given police an extra 14 days off a year because of the introduction of new 8.5 hour shifts.
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