As part of an impending industrial action, police are planning to warn lucky drivers in one state about the locations of speed cameras.
Victoria Police is demanding an $840 million pay deal for its roughly 17,500 officers, including protective services officers (PSOs) on public transport, in a long-running and bitter dispute with Jacinta Allan’s state government.
As part of further industrial action next week, officers also plan to paste slogans on vehicles, protest at government facilities and put up posters at police stations.
Last month, police union members voted to reject an offer of nine-hour shifts and nine-day fortnights as part of a $500 million deal agreed by the state government and top brass.
The deal would have included a 16 percent pay increase and 22 additional days off per year on a normal schedule.
Police are seeking annual pay increases of six percent over the next four years and 8.5-hour shifts that give them 14 days off a year.
The deal would add at least $210 million to the force’s $3.2 billion annual payroll.
Police previously staged a strike between December and May after their labor agreement expired in November.
Victoria Police are set to launch a new strike next week as part of a long-running pay dispute.
Union members voted to agree to the introduction of nine-hour shifts by 2028, but 57 percent of police subsequently rejected the deal, forcing the sides to return to negotiations.
Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said members of his union felt undervalued.
“Our members have seen other workers receive larger pay increases and feel that the nature and importance of their work to the community should be held in the same respect and attract the same rewards,” Gatt said. Herald of the Sun.
He accused the state government and the force command of playing hardball and of “destroying everything previously agreed in the proposed EBA and sending negotiations back to square one.”
As part of its planned industrial action, Victoria Police will be warning lucky drivers about the locations of speed cameras.
Premier Jacinta Allan’s heavily indebted state Labor government is facing increased pay demands from a number of public sector workers.
“The Government has not increased its financial offer to the police and the PSO,” he said.
‘As a result, our delegates voted to resume Phase 1 industrial action measures from next week and to hold a vote among members on escalation to Phase 2 measures in the coming weeks.’
Premier Jacinta Allan’s heavily indebted state Labor government is also in protracted pay disputes with firefighters and paramedics.
However, at least a section of the public sector workforce is happy, and nurses are taking up positions. 28 percent pay increase in June, adding a whopping $1 billion to their salaries.
However, this has become a benchmark for other emergency service workers to follow.