8 EB Negotiations
Delegates reject
government pay offer
It is time to stand strong and together
Paul Mullett
“The Government’s offer
is an insult to each and
every member of our
proud Association.”
W
ith those words, Secretary of
the Victoria Police branch
of the Police Federation of
Australia, Paul Mullett opened a
Special Delegates’ Conference held
last month. He said that it was
time to take a strong and united
stand to ensure Victoria Police Force
members don’t become the worst
paid police in Australia. The offer
made by the Bracks Government
would see Victoria Police Force
members being paid less in 2009
than some police in other states are
being today.
The meeting was called after
the Bracks Government rejected
an understanding reached after
lengthy negotiations between the
Association and the Force. These
negotiations took place over several
months, with the negotiating teams
working well into the night on
several occasions.
The Delegates were incensed by
the Government’s offer and voted
unanimously to reject it, branding
it ‘insulting’. They recommended
to the Executive that protected
industrial action be considered.
To reinforce their message to the
Bracks Government, the Delegates
voted to march on Parliament
House after the Special General
meeting on July 13.
Paul outlined an understanding
reached with the Force. This covers
areas of salary and salary related
measures, a new classification
structure, non-salary related items
and productivity initiatives. Each
and every aspect was outlined to
Delegate Ken Pasalaqua
July 2007 Journal The Police Association Victoria the Delegates at the meeting.
The understanding calls for a 4.1
percent per annum salary increase
payable at six monthly intervals.
Together with the agreed changes
to the classification structure, this
would mean an average of 6.1
percent over three years across all
ranks. The Government is offering
3.25 percent.
There is a new classification
structure which includes a ‘soft
barrier’ entry to Leading Senior
Constable classification available
to all members and an additional
increment to Sergeant, Senior
Sergeant, Inspector, Superintendent
and Commander levels.
Revised weekend and night
shift penalty rates will see the
introduction of defined intrusive
and unsociable working hours.
Intrusive work ours are between
midnight and 0700. Unsociable
hours are those worked between
midnight Friday and midnight
Sunday as well as from 1800 to
midnight on weekdays. The hourly
rate for unsociable hours is $4.39
and intrusive hours $6.45.
In addition members would be
able to salary sacrifice contributions
to the Emergency Service Super
Executive vote to reject pay offer
www.tpav.org.au
9
defined benefit. This will mean up
to an additional 2.4 percent per
annum for members.
Other benefits negotiated include
pro rata long service leave after
seven years, the ability for PSOs
to access the defined benefit of the
Emergency Services Super and an
increase of maternity/adoption
leave to 14 weeks. Most importantly
would be the introduction of
the Police Registration Board.
“This is the centrepiece of the
understanding,” Paul Mullett said.
Members may not realise that
the Police Federation of Australia
is governed by the Federal Work
Choices legislation. “This is bad
legislation. It is an irony that the
Bracks State Labor Government
could be supporting a Howard
Federal legislation. Steve Bracks
should hang his head in shame.”
Paul Mullett stressed to the
Delegates that we need the support
and solidarity of all members at the
Special General Meeting to be held
on July 13.
“Gone are the days when
members can attend a meeting and
vote on industrial action. Now we
must hold a secret ballot.
“You are the spine of the Police
Federation of Australia. Without
you we couldn’t have come this
far and without you we won’t be
able to go any further,” he told the
Delegates.
President Brian Rix told the
Delegates that the Bracks
Government is letting the police
members down. “Every one of us is
a leader of this organisation. We
must lead our people to ensure we
get a proper Agreement.”
Chronology of EBA Negotiations
• Christmas Eve 2005 – Chief Commission Nixon advised she would
extend current agreement by six months and delayed negotiations
with the Association
• 14 June 2006 – Association members endorse EBA Log of Claims at a
Special General meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall.
• 16 June 2006 – Log of Claims hand delivered to Chief Commissioner’s
office
• 2 July 2006 – Sign up for Community Safety campaign launched
• November 2006 – Association receives Government commitments
including commencement of pay talks on 6 December and to conclude
by July 2007
• 6 December 2006 – Certified Agreement formally expires
• 22 December 2006 – Association and Victoria Police force workshop
career structures
• 24 January 2007 – Two-day Police Registration Board workshop
• 16 February 2007 – Force offer 3 percent per annum over five years
and Association rejects the offer and negotiations continue
• 19 February to 18 April 2007 – intensive negotiations result in ‘without
prejudice’ understanding of negotiations
• 7 June 2007 – Government rejects understanding of negotiations
• 13 June 2007 Special Executive meeting unanimously endorses the
initiation of a bargaining period and a special general meeting of
members to be held on 13 July 2007
Delegates at the conference
continued from page 7
of issues to allow members to get
on with their duties. The Force’s
Equity and Conflict Resolution
Unit is responsible for dealing with
www.tpav.org.au
Delegates at the conference
Greg Davies, Brian Rix and Paul Mullett
complaints and assisting members
with the processes.
While resolution remains the
responsibility of the Force and we
cannot formally advocate for any
member, we are able to provide
advice and assistance at any stage
of the process. Further information
is on the TPA website. For help,
please contact the Association
on (03) 9495 6899 or access
information via www.tpav.org.au
July 2007 Journal The Police Association Victoria