Police may strike over ‘insulting’ offer

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE police are considering industrial action after a breakdown in pay talks with the State Government.
Local members met Police Association officials on Friday over their next action after the Government rejected a 3.25 per cent wage increase per annum.
The meeting also comes before a mass meeting of Victoria’s 11,000 police officers to be held at Vodafone Arena in Melbourne on 13 July.
Police Association assistant secretary Inspector Bruce McKenzie said the 15 police members who attended the Cranbourne meeting expressed their bitter disappointment at the State Government’s refusal to negotiate an outcome between the union and Victoria Police.
“If the Bracks Government doesn’t meet what we consider a reasonable outcome then the officers will consider industrial action at the (13 July) meeting,” Insp McKenzie said.
He said Cranbourne members were overworked with limited resources and staff, and they were fed up.
“They are working hard in an unresourced environment. Then to have their pay request knocked back, it is really knocking the stuffing out of them,” he said.
Insp McKenzie said members were particularly disappointed at politicians’ recent decision to vote themselves a 6.7 per cent pay increase.
“We are asking much less than that,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the Government has gone back on its word by making an insulting pay offer that would see police in Victoria paid on average $500 less per month than their interstate counterparts.”
Cranbourne Police union delegate Sergeant Tony Nestor said Cranbourne members were outraged and insulted by the pay offer.
“Basically, members don’t really understand where Bracks is coming from,” Sgt Nestor said.
“This was an agreement made with our employer, with the chief. Yet the Government has come back with this insulting offer.”
Sgt Nestor said while industrial action was a last resort, Cranbourne police were certainly prepared to take that step.
“Members feel more strongly about this than any other claim, and now with WorkChoices and industrial relations also on the table it’s just not on,” Sgt Nestor said.
He said the growth of the Cranbourne police response zone was far exceeding demand and police were already feeling the strain.
“Members want to provide the best possible service to the community, but the only way they are going to do that is with proper resources and staff,” Sgt Nestor said.
“Cranbourne is only going to get busier.”