VIC Police Union threatens industrial action
Victoria's Police Union has threatened to take industrial action next month if the state government doesn't come to the bargaining table. Officers want a 4 per cent pay rise and to be paid for overtime. But the Police Minister says he's hopeful an agreement will be reached before action needs to be taken.
Transcript
00:00 Scribbling slogans, warning drivers of speed cameras and refusing unpaid overtime.
00:07 That's what police are threatening to do if the government doesn't stump up better pay and conditions.
00:14 Unpaid work is wages theft and that shouldn't occur in an organisation that deals with theft every day.
00:21 On top of a 4% pay rise, police want 9 hour shifts to reflect the unpaid overtime officers' work.
00:28 The union says Victoria Police is struggling to retain staff with the number of full-time officers at a four year low.
00:36 We've got a sausage factory at the moment. We keep pulling people into the academy and we keep spitting them out the back door and that's unsustainable.
00:43 The academy is full. We have 48 recruits of fortnight, that's double squads, entering the academy since March.
00:51 The Police Association's 1800 members are set to vote next week on whether to take industrial action from December.
00:59 I remain quietly confident and hopeful that continued discussions between the union, the Police Association and Victoria Police will resolve these matters before any industrial action would need to be considered.
01:12 I have no confidence that this minister will be able to resolve it. What we're seeing here at the moment is the government's in chaos when it comes to dealing with all of our emergency services.
01:19 It's not the only battle with frontline workers dogging the government. It's also been locked in a bitter standoff with firefighters for more than 18 months.
01:28 That pay deal is now with the independent umpire after negotiations completely broke down.
01:34 And that will take many more months to resolve.
01:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]