Police vote for industrial action as pay negotiations stall

Police union members have voted to take industrial action after pay negotiations with Victoria Police and the state government stalled ahead of their enterprise bargaining agreement expiring next week.

The union has called for a 4 per cent pay rise and for officers to be paid for slightly longer shifts.

Potential industrial action could include members stopping work when it is safe to do so, police vehicles being used to promote messages about their industrial fight and a ban on members working beyond rostered hours without claiming overtime.

They have also threatened to park police cars with flashing lights at fixed or mobile speed cameras and red light cameras, in locations where the speed limit is below 80km/h.

The Police Association of Victoria said more than 15,000 members had voted, with 99 per cent supporting industrial action unless they receive a fair offer for better pay and working conditions before the EBA expires on Thursday.

Association secretary Wayne Gatt said the union had asked for nine-hour shifts because members currently gave away at least half an hour for free every shift.

Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said members had voted in favour of industrial action after not receiving a wage offer.Credit: Luis Ascui

“They do this so that they’re ready the second their shift starts to answer the community’s calls for assistance,” he said in a statement on Friday. “But at the moment they do it for free. That needs to change.

“We have asked for a 4 per cent pay rise and a cost-of-living adjustment, so that our members can
help look after the families they see so little of.”

Gatt said he’d spoken to thousands of members across the state ahead of the closure of the industrial action vote on Friday.

“In their thousands they are telling us that their morale is low, that they are burnt out, that they are tired, they are over worked, that they are undervalued, yet they remain always there for the Victorian community,” he said.

Victoria Police said significant progress had been made towards an agreement that was fair to police, protective services and the community, while recognising the challenges of policing.

“Victoria Police continues to negotiate in good faith with the Police Association Victoria,” a spokesperson said. “If industrial action does occur, the community can be assured frontline policing services will continue to be provided.”

A government spokesperson said Victoria had invested more in its police than any other state or territory. The spokesperson said that included funding an extensive recruitment campaign to encourage more people to join the force and the police academy was full, with double squads of 48 people graduating every fortnight.

“These are ongoing negotiations,” they said. “We expect all parties to continue bargaining in good faith, and we welcome the union’s assurance that community safety will not be put at risk with any industrial action.”

This month Victoria Police said it had earmarked dozens of stations to be closed to the public overnight to allow officers to focus on frontline duties and patrols and to tackle staffing shortages. Twenty-three stations will likely reduce their reception hours from the end of November, with a further 20 to follow in coming months.

The force’s annual report, published in the first week of November revealed the number of active serving police had reduced by 317 in the year to almost 15,850.

The union said more than 15,192 members voted in favour of industrial action, representing 88 per cent of police and protective service officers.

Gatt said if Victoria Police wanted to reverse the churn-and-burn trend that was enveloping the force, they needed to deliver a viable future for police and protective service officers.

He said experienced police officers were leaving the force to become security guards on Melbourne’s trams and trains.

“The current state of affairs in Victoria Police needs to be corrected with better terms and conditions so that our most experienced officers remain in this job, so that they do not leave to other sectors,” he said.

Police union delegates will meet next week to discuss an action plan regarding protected industrial action.

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