Victoria’s police union has hit pause on its industrial action after an “interim breakthrough” in its battle for improved working conditions for officers.
The Police Association Victoria confirmed on Wednesday it had received a commitment from the state government and the force over significant rostering reform.
The union has been pushing for the introduction of nine-hour shifts, arguing the current model was “driving really poor health and wellbeing outcomes” for members.
PAV Secretary Wayne Gatt told 3AW’s Tony Jones an agreement had been struck which starts the ball rolling on new rostering arrangements.
“What we’ve got is an agreement from government and Victoria Police – a commitment to develop and implement nine-hour shifts for our members,” he said
“Now that the parties have reached agreement… work can now happen in earnest (and) we’re able to hit that pause button for the time being.”
Mr Gatt acknowledged “complex” work will need to be undertaken in order to see a new rostering model fall into place over the coming months.
He added the “pressure’s on now for everybody to actually deliver” the change he described as the biggest rostering reform he has seen in the past 30 years.
“It’s a massive piece of work, it’s going to take everybody to really hone in and do some important and detailed work on this now,” Mr Gatt said.
“But it is a significant shift in position and a significant breakthrough for us in negotiations.”
The rostering change is one of the “key issues” the union has wanted to be addressed as part of negotiations over a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
The union has also been pushing for a four per cent pay rise, with Mr Gatt declaring a “goodwill payment” has initially been secured – a 1.75 per cent pay rise over six months.
“The final arrangements for the agreement and the final pay outcomes are yet to be determined,” Mr Gatt said.
“That will be work that will continue obviously over Christmas/New Year and into the New Year. And then we’ll have an agreement to talk about in the New Year, we would hope.”
The industrial action involved the 17,500-strong police union plastering messages over police vehicles such as “we can’t turnout if we burnout” and “free labour thanks to Labor”.
There was also a ban on unpaid overtime, using flashing lights to warn motorists about speed camera locations, and officers using sirens to disrupt a press conference being held by Victoria’s Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio.
Victoria Police and the Allan government are on notice that the industrial action could be initiated again if there is a breakdown in further negotiations.
(SKY NEWS)
