Special Operations cops left short-changed by new pay deal
They’re the police unit called in to handle the state’s most dangerous incidents, but a controversial pay deal has left members of Victoria’s elite Special Operations Group fuming.
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Members of Victoria Police’s elite Special Operations Group are angry that a recent pay deal left them worse off than general duties officers.
The “Sons Of God” say they were shunned when police called off industrial action last December after reaching an agreement with the state government for a two per cent pay rise annually.
But the Sunday Herald Sun can reveal members of the SOG feel short-changed.
The SOG is called in to handle highly dangerous situations involving terrorists, armed suspects and hostages.
Sources said Police Association Victoria promised they would fight for a skills allowance for them, to bring the group in line with police tactical units in other states.
But the agreement was withdrawn during negotiations without consultation with the SOG.
The tactical group work dayshift Monday to Friday and are then on-call for major incidents.
However the new EBA only benefits police who do shift work such as general duties police and the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).
There are estimates SOG officers will be paid $2000 to $5000 less a year, depending on their rank.
Shadow Police Minister David Southwick said: “These members perform some of the most dangerous work within Victoria Police and put themselves in harm’s way everyday yet continue to be short changed by Daniel Andrews.”
Members of the force’s highly-skilled bomb squad have also been left high and dry following the negotiations, it is believed.
An elite paramilitary-style police unit, the black-clad SOG cops use special weaponry and train in advanced anti-terror tactics.
It has been brought in to deal with some of the most dangerous situations in Victoria in recent years, including the Brighton siege with Islamic terrorist Yacqub Khayre in 2017.
Khayre fired a sawn-off shotgun twice at SOG officers, who returned fire and killed him, while he held a woman hostage in a hotel room.
Three SOG officers were shot, including one who received a hand injury and another who was left with facial injuries.
SOG was also involved in the arrest of terror plotters who planned to commit mass murder in key CBD locations on Christmas Day in 2016.
The police association categorise the new EBA as a three per cent annual wage increase due to new allowances police will receive.
In response to SOG’s concerns, a spokesman said: “Every member of Victoria Police will receive a three per cent pay rise under the terms of the proposed EBA, which members are currently voting on. Every member has a voice through their vote.”
A State Government spokesman said: “An in-principle agreement has been reached with the union that complies with the state’s wages policy, and all police members have the opportunity to vote on it before it to the Fair Work Commission for formal approval.”
Victoria Police declined to comment.
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