Victoria Police members slam lowball new pay deal as ‘a stinker’

Victorian police say the government is putting “a gun to members’ heads” to make them accept a lowball new pay deal or else risk losing millions of dollars in collective backpay.

Victorian police say they are being strong-armed into accepting a lowball new pay deal or risk losing millions in collective backpay.

Under a new proposal put to rank and file members on Wednesday, police would lock in a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase over the next four years — significantly lower than the 6 per cent being sought.

Frontline police would also secure an additional 0.5 per cent, and would no longer be required to “kit up” outside of shift times.

The offer, which would cost the Allan government an estimated $456m based on its current $3.2bn annual wages bill, would be backdated to June 1, but only if it is accepted.

Police say they are being strong-armed into accepting a lowball new pay deal or risk losing millions in collective backpay. Picture: Nadir Kinani

The possibility of backpay in future offers would be taken off the table if the current proposal was rejected, sources familiar with negotiations said.

“It’s a stinker,” one officer said.

“This is the gun the government has put to members’ heads, if they don’t accept the agreement, the backpay is taken off the table.”

Retiring members also stand to lose an estimated $50m a year with the scrapping of a “golden handshake” clause in the current agreement.

Currently retiring members can cash in up to 12 months of accrued sick leave, but that would no longer be possible under the new deal.

It is feared such a move could encourage members to use sick leave before retiring, taking officers off the beat.

The proposal has been endorsed by the Fair Work Commission who have been called on to intervene in the long running pay dispute. Picture: Nadir Kinani

The proposal has been endorsed by the Fair Work Commission who have been called on to intervene in the long running pay dispute.

A police association spokesperson said the proposal followed several days of intense negotiations with Victoria Police and assisted by the Fair Work Commission.

“The details of this proposal have this afternoon been shared with our members, as has the Fair Work Commissioner’s recommendations.,” he said.

“An in-principle agreement will not be reached without the endorsement of our members.”

The Allan government is desperate to strike a deal to end the almost two year pay war that has led to increasingly aggressive strike action by police.

Last week members gatecrashed a press conference by deputy premier Ben Carroll, while other members have increasingly walked off the job.

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

Police members are demanding a new $840m pay deal. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

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.

Originally published as Victoria Police members slam lowball new pay deal as ‘a stinker’