By TOM HAYES
POLICE officers from the Traralgon Police Station took their stand against the state government amid wage negotiations, walking off the job on the morning of Wednesday, December 11.
Staged with a banner that read ‘breaking point’ and administered by The Police Association of Victoria (TPAV), officers spent 30 minutes off the job, from 9am until 9.30am, as a part of their Protected Industrial Action.
Over 20 people from the Traralgon Police Station and TPAV gathered at the front of the police station to represent the 17,000 officers across the state, while TPAV President, Sergeant Karl David spoke to media regarding the demands of Victorian police officers, and the strain they have undergone in recent years.
Despite doing so, they reminded everyone that if they were needed to return to work to assist the public, they would.
Victorian police officers have been seen walking off the job all over the state, from the Spencer Street precinct in Melbourne, to Mildura, and even Sale. In the past few weeks, hundreds of police officers have walked off the job.
The Enterprise Bargaining Agreement reached Fair Work last month which was asked to resolve the dispute. Since then, nothing more has revealed.
Victoria Police is asking for a 24 per cent pay rise over four years, as well as the introduction of 8.5-hour shifts to accommodate for gearing up and down, before and after shifts.
Union members rejected the state government’s first offer in June, which comprised of a four per cent raise.
More to come.
