Police Association members at the Bairnsdale police station walked off the job for 30 minutes in the first police walkout in 25 years on Monday.
Frustrated at Victoria Police and the State Government’s unwillingness to negotiate a fair pay rise and end wage theft from police at the beginning and end of every shift, 30 members walked off the job united in a bid to get the employer back to the negotiating table.
President of The Police Association Victoria (TPAV), Karl David, said members were “absolutely pissed off”.
“Working for Victoria Police and their equipment and their antiquated procedures is like skydiving with a parachute from Temu,” Mr David said.
“Why would you spend another hour doing a couple more jumps with that same parachute in your own time?”
“New South Wales government respect their police and their commissioner respect their police, and gave them a pay rise, they got to the job and did what they had to do.
“I want to reinforce the need to continue industrial action, more of our members continue to participate in this action.”
“This is the one way we get to show the world that we are united and will stand shoulder-to-shoulder to get our desired outcome and get a fair pay rise.”
Victoria Police has applied to the Fair Work Commission to have the EBA dispute declared intractable, and have the Commission determine the financial and working future of our police and PSOs.
“We don’t want Victoria Police to wash its hands of our members’ future, we want it to return to the negotiating table and have some involvement in looking after its workforce,” TPAV said.
“With over 1000 vacancies, 800 plus members off sick and more police leaving than entering the building that will host today’s walkout, Victoria Police needs to take ownership here and correct the ship that is currently sailing off course.
“Don’t complain about your lack of resources and close 43 stations down to rationalise your troops and then throw your hands up and say ‘this is a problem for someone else to fix’.
“Our members want Victoria Police to stop being part of the problem and instead, to return to the bargaining table and be part of the solution to this dispute.”
More daily work stoppages will follow at police stations and work units across metropolitan Melbourne and the state.
TPAV members are seeking a six per cent pay rise per annum over four years and an end to unpaid work. The current EBA expired in November, 2023.
