“We’re not philanthropists” is the blunt message the Victorian police union delivered to the state government as they head to court, claiming millions of dollars in unpaid overtime dating back years.
The Police Association of Victoria claims thousands of officers have been required to work before and after their assigned shifts but have not been paid.
Officers were required to arrive about 30 minutes early to change into uniforms, collect and prepare equipment such as guns, tasers, and breathalysers, and inspect and prepare police cars for patrols. They then attended briefings before starting their shifts and repeated the process in reverse at the end of the shift.
However, the Association claims they are paid only for the time they are officially on duty.
Union secretary Wayne Gatt said Victoria Police had been relying on officers working for free to meet the demands of 24/7 policing.
The union sent a demand letter to Victoria Police on Nov. 25, saying it had not complied with the terms of its employment contracts.
No offer was forthcoming, so they have launched proceedings in the Federal Court demanding unpaid wages for current and former officers.
“This claim is potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, money that should already be sitting in the bank accounts of our hard-working members,” he said.
“Our members are driven by their commitment to the safety of the community, but they are workers, not philanthropists.
Extra Pay and Allowances Already, Police Say
However, Victoria Police rejects any suggestion that it has been underpaying its officers. It says officers are compensated for up to 30 minutes of work outside their ordinary hours, which has been the case for 60 years.“These arrangements have been reviewed at key points over those 60 years and at every stage have been retained as part of our employee terms and conditions,” a police spokeswoman said. “[The additional demands on officers’ time] have long been reflected through higher salaries and allowances.”
The claim is just the latest in a protracted industrial dispute being considered by the Fair Work Commission, which is due to make a decision by the end of this year.
Police and protective services officers have been involved in over a dozen stop-work demonstrations across Victorian stations and academies to protest a stalemate in pay negotiations. The union is seeking a 24 percent pay rise over four years and an end to unpaid overtime.
In May, the government and the union reached an in-principle agreement for a nine-day fortnight and a 16 percent pay rise over four years, but members voted against the deal.
In Victoria, recruits are paid an annual salary of $55,995 (US$35,947) from their first week at the Academy. After being sworn in as a probationary constable at the end of week 12, they earn $76,927 per annum, plus allowances.
Once they’ve received their Diploma of Policing and attained the rank of First Constable, their salary increases to $82,728 (plus allowances). Their salary then increases in line with their experience and duties, with automatic increases guaranteed each year.
In addition to the statutory allowances for such things as parental and annual leave, every officer also gets nine weeks of recreation leave each year.
They’re also paid extra for working “intrusive hours” (1 a.m. to 7 a.m.) and “unsociable hours” (6 p.m. to 1 a.m.) and can earn additional benefits if they’re posted to work in a country area.
