Victoria police will launch a fresh round of industrial action this week, sabotaging speed cameras and interrupting government media conferences.
Police association members today rejected a deal to lock in three per cent pay rises and a nine-day fortnight.
Around Victoria, red and blue lights at some speed cameras will warn drivers to slow down as the union pressures the government and Victoria Police to speed up negotiations.
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“We’ll continue to work in good faith with them and try and get an outcome as soon as possible,” Victoria’s Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said.
Police Association members rejected a four-year, 16 per cent pay rise last month.
Instead, they want annual six per cent pay rises and an extra 14 days off every year for working 8.5-hour shifts.
“Victoria Police responded by tearing up everything previously agreed, sending negotiations back to square one,” union secretary Wayne Gatt said in a statement.
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If accepted – the terms would add at least $200 million to Victoria Police’s wages bill, which is already at $3.2 billion per year.
“When you’re $190 billion into debt, you can’t as a government make pay deals because you’ve run out of money,” state Liberal MP James Newbury said.
Victoria’s firefighters and paramedics are both fighting for better pay deals after the state government awarded Victorian nurses a 28 pert cent pay rise over four years.
“Our members have seen other workers receiving higher pay rises and they feel that the nature and importance of their work, should be held in the same regard and attract the same rewards,” Gatt said.
Victoria Police refused to comment.
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