Victoria Police walk off the job for the first time in 25 years over pay dispute
Victoria Police officers will again walk off the job on Friday as part of a protracted pay dispute but Treasurer Tim Pallas has defended the state government’s initial proposal.
Victoria
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Police will again walk off the job at a suburban station as industrial action over the ugly and ongoing pay war escalates.
Officers will on Friday stop work for another 30 minutes at the Keilor Downs station from 11am after historic strike action on Thursday.
Up to 400 members and recruits downed tools at the police academy in Glen Waverley while members at Broadmeadows stopped work in what became the first strike action in 25 years.
Police Association boss Wayne Gatt warned the disruptions would roll on if the government didn’t offer up a satisfactory pay deal.
“With over 1000 vacancies, 800-plus members off sick and more police leaving than entering the building that will host Friday’s walkout, Victoria Police needs to take ownership here and correct the ship that is currently sailing off course,” he said.
Mr Gatt on Thursday led a march down View Mount Rd in Glen Waverley with a huge banner that read “Breaking point. 1000+ vacancies. 700+ off sick”.
Thursday’s strike action marked the first time in 25 years that officers have walked off the job, with police last stepping away from their duties in 1999 in protest of staff shortages and worsening resources.
The union is demanding the state government hand members a 6 per cent pay rise but the deal is now in the hands of the Fair Work Commission.
A fired up Mr Gatt questioned why the state government was waiting to be directed by the FWC.
“Half an hour before we assembled here today, the treasurer of Victoria got on the radio and said ‘if the Fair Work Commission makes us pay more, we’ll pay more’,” he told members.
“Well I say pay now. If you can pay these members now, pay them now. Don’t suffer the indignity of having to beg the Fair Work Commission.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas said the initial proposed agreement — which was rejected by members — would have had enough benefits for police officers.
“We’ve already had an agreement in principle with the Police Association negotiators. In my view, it was one that would have delivered substantial improvements,” he said.
“They earn more than our teachers, they earn more than our nurses, they earn more than our ambulance workers.
“So as a government, we’ve made a pretty generous offer.”
Force command say they cannot accommodate the 6 per cent pay rise as they are hamstrung by the state government’s strict wages policy that remains at 3 per cent.
The Fair Work Commission will on Monday formally hear any submissions made by the union and Victoria Police command but it is not known if or when a decision will be made.
Shadow police minister Brad Battin said the government needed to come to the party to end the war.
He said treasurer Tim Pallas signalling a pay rise only if forced to by the FWC was “the ultimate sign of disrespect”.
“The strategy they’ve got at the moment, effectively just walking away from the negotiating table, is highlighting the disrespect they’ve got for Victoria Police,” he told 3AW.
“They can change their wages policy... it’s time they take responsibility.”
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