What you said on Victoria Police pay dispute

The messy pay dispute between Victoria Police and the Police Association has divided opinion among current and former members. Here’s what they said.

The messy pay dispute between Victoria Police and the Police Association has divided opinion among current and former members.

Hotly contested is the introduction of nine-hour shifts for frontline cops, a move which is backed by the police union and Allan government but refused by Victoria Police.

The disagreement about the rostering arrangements will see the pay stalemate continue, which could lead to further police industrial action.

Some former and current police officers offered up their thoughts in the Herald Sun comments.

See what they said about the proposal.

Picture: Brendan Beckett

WHAT YOU SAID

Chloe

What do the police members actually want? We need them and we need them to stay in the job and feel valued. TPAV say one thing, Patton says another, government lying as per usual.

Natalie

Make no mistake, Victoria Police Command (anybody Inspector and above) is highly political, uninterested in community policing and deceptive. My husband (a police veteran) said he saw this coming when TPAV rolled over in ‘good faith’ to commands’ demands.

‘I support the nine-hour shift proposal’

Jason

As a former VicPol member many years ago, I agree with any change to working conditions that make policing better for front line members. I feel for everyone in Victoria who is crying out for more dollars, VicPol, the nurses and even the SES. Unfortunately the Victorian Government is broke, so although I sympathise with all the workers wanted the pay rise etc, where’s the money going to come from? It’s no wonder these professionals as well as school teachers are all leaving Victoria.

Tom

As a retired cop, l have done many days with very long shifts.

l also did 12/12 – 12 on, 12 off – during CHOGM 1981. It really took a toll on all cops l know that did the 12/12. And when a major incident/major crime occurs, cops just cant walk off the job halfway thru the major incident either.

Amelia

Nine hour shifts or even 9.5 hour shifts can work as not the shift lengths but the number of hours worked that count. Also allows for greater flexibility for part time hours for periods of time when needed. Eight hour shifts are useless to cover 24 hours unless employees are expected to start earlier and finish later in their own time. Other efficiencies could be better avenues of savings without making the front line those getting smashed again.

TP

Need to stop and read the proposal correctly. They will still work 8 hour shifts, with three shifts covering the day, i.e. 8 x 3 = 24. What they are seeking is a paid half-hour at the commencement of each shift to equip and prepare for the shift and a paid half-hour at the end to de-kit and finalise each shift. The issue comes with the 9 day fortnight where additional resourcing is required to cover the lost tenth shift. Given that the most complaint is coming from the unpaid hours pre and post shift, I would have thought the simplest solution was to simply pay them overtime for the pre and post shift half hours and stay on 10 shifts per fortnight?

Picture: Valeriu Campan

Trevor

Well a traffic control employee is making $80,000 more than a front line member of the Police Force, the front line members are being short changed by not only the Government, but Force Command, and the Police Association itself, front line members deserve better. Yes I am a retired member.

Catherine

Police work very hard. The hours that they are expected to do, not many would. Seven straight days of night shift following the day after they finish that two day shifts. Nine days straight and sleep-deprived. So all you people who criticise the police new agreements, would you work these hours? Not many would. People complained about having to go back to the office after Covid. Don’t want to get out of their pjs.

‘I don’t think nine-hour shifts will work’

Greg

Nine hour shifts cannot work without the injection of massive numbers of police officers. Twenty four hours needs to be covered every day hence the preferred eight hour shifts. I wrote rosters and managed police resources for over forty years. Nine ten and twelve hour shifts at station level do not work and are definitely not an effective or efficient use of limited resources.

Shane

Members don’t want 9x9, TPAV has screwed us over. Better pay with frontline allowances and no unpaid overtime is all we want.

Colin

The one thing about the 9x9 is that not every police officer needs it. It beggars belief to think that every member operating across the spectrum requires a 30 minute window at the start and end of their shift to complete a handover. It’s simply not true. There are many who do not need the additional hour per day. On a day-to-day basis only a small percentage of staff complete this process. Compensate those who need to complete the action, don’t waste money on those who don’t. Frontline didn’t ask for this, it’s been thrown at members. I’d guess a fair number don’t want it anyway.

Joshy Wastemburg

9 day fortnight is what we don’t need she needs to stand firm.