Victoria Police officers preparing to strike in their fight for more pay as long-running dispute continues

Victoria Police officers will ramp up industrial action over their long-running pay dispute with the government, preparing to strike at the police academy and across dozens of stations from Thursday.

The Allan government is facing its first police walkout in 25 years amid the worsening war over a new pay deal.

Police will walk off the job from Thursday during a series of stop work meetings as they ramp up industrial action in their fight for more pay.

Amid a surge in vacancies across Victoria Police, the proposed strike action poses a major political headache for the Allan government.

Police will walk off the job from Thursday as they ramp up industrial action in their fight for more pay.

Officers will strike at the police academy and Broadmeadows police station during a series of 30-minute stop work meetings from Thursday.

Dozens of other stations are expected to be added at a rate of two a day as tensions boil over amid the 18-month-long pay dispute.

In a leaked memo to members, the police association urged officers to “do less for 30 minutes to do more for your future pay and conditions”.

“This action will send a clear message to Victoria Police and the government that you, the members, want them to roll up their sleeves, return to the bargaining table and show some care and concern for your pay and working conditions,” it said.

“Be involved and show the government and Victoria Police that your future isn’t a commodity to be subcontracted out.

“These work stoppages will be rolled out at selected stations over the course of the following weeks.”

Police last walked off the job in 1999 to protest staff shortages and a worsening resourcing crisis.

Police cars are plastered on William street in the city centre. Picture: Nadir Kinani

The long-running police dispute is now before the Fair Work Commission who has been asked by Victoria Police to intervene in the matter.

It means independent FWC arbitrators could decide all the terms of the police pay agreement.

The move has infuriated rank and file members who say they are now “at war” with Victoria Police’s top brass.

Police association secretary, Wayne Gatt, urged Victoria Police and the government to return to the negotiating table to present a revised wages offer.

“Our members are struggling financially, and they are struggling at the workplace due to the pressure they’re under. More than a thousand vacancies, a worrying attrition rate and hundreds of police off on long-term sick leave, means they’re doing more work than they ever have for less,” he said.

“Now, they’re taking back some of a precious commodity that their employer has long taken from them for free – their time.

Wayne Gatt urged Victoria Police and the government to return to the negotiating table to present a revised wages offer. Picture: David Crosling

“The public needn’t be concerned that their safety will be compromised – our members will always have the back of their community.

“If a triple-0 call for assistance comes in during a work stoppage, members will respond.

“The community is certainly not the target here, in fact their support has been appreciated by our members.

“The target here is the employer and the government.”

Police members are demanding a new $840m pay deal after rejecting a 16 per cent pay rise over four years and the introduction of nine hour shifts.

Instead they want 6 per cent annual pay rises over the next four years as well as the introduction of new 8.5 hour shifts which will leave them with an extra 14 days off a year.

In June, the government signed a mammoth $1bn pay deal for nurses, giving them a 28 per cent pay rise which has become a benchmark for emergency service workers to follow.

The current police workplace agreement expired in November 2023, with police staging industrial action between December and May when police union members voted to accept the phased-in introduction of nine hour shifts by 2028.