A police union leader accused the Victorian government of “running away” during a lengthy wage dispute, as hundreds of officers walked out of the state’s biggest station.
Victoria Police and protective service officers working out of their Melbourne headquarters in Spencer Street took part in a one hour strike from 11am on Nov. 29.
“I’ve been a police officer for 11 years and I’ve never seen it this bad,” Sergeant Joe Sellars told reporters at the Victoria Police Centre.
The Melbourne West station supervisor said he worried about his team’s mental and physical health due to long hours, abuse towards officers and the stress of the lengthy pay dispute.
“I just want to see the government and our force command talk to our union,” Sellers said.
The union members are pushing for a 24 percent pay rise over four years and for an end to unpaid overtime.
Nov. 29’s walkout was the biggest of 17 separate stoppages held across the state the past fortnight, marking the first time officers have gone on strike in more than two decades.
The force had more than 1000 vacancies and 700 workers were on long-term sick leave, according to Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt.
Gatt put forward a motion condemning Victoria Police and the state government “for its deplorable handling of our wage negotiations.”
Hundreds in the crowd responded with an “aye.”
An in-principle agreement was reached in May for a nine-day fortnight and a 16 percent pay rise over four years, but union members voted against the deal.
The force asked the Fair Work Commission to intervene, with a decision due by the end of 2024.
Victoria Police said appropriate measures were taken to ensure there was no adverse impact to community safety on Nov. 29, and that it respected members’ rights to take industrial action.
“We have been very open about Victoria Police’s resourcing challenges and are doing everything we can to fill vacant positions,” a police spokesman said.
“We are also prioritising our workloads to make sure we continue to keep the community safe.”
He said police were awaiting the Fair Work Commission ruling on how the dispute can be settled.
“Victoria Police remains committed to securing an outcome that recognises the challenges of policing and is fair for police, protective services officers, and the Victorian community,” he said.
But Gatt said going to the industrial watchdog is an “attempt to shut us down.”
“We won’t go quietly,” he said.
“This business ... that we should outsource it to somebody else to deal with your issues is weakness and it is fear, and it lacks courage.
“While you’re running into danger, this government is running away from you.”
A spokesperson for the Victorian Government said they had delivered a record $4.5 billion (US$2.9 billion) to the force to ensure police have the resources they need.
“Any planned protected industrial action is a matter for The Police Association of Victoria, and we welcome the assurance that any action would not affect community safety,” the spokesperson said.
The action comes after NSW officers won a pay rise of at least 25 percent in recent weeks, while Queensland Police offers a $20,000 (US$13,000) relocation payment for recruits.
