By Jaidyn Kennedy
Werribee police officers walked off the job in two separate strikes across November 27-28 to demand better pay and working conditions from the state government.
In a bid to bring Victoria Police back to the negotiating table, protective services officers (PSOs) stopped work at 4.40pm on Wednesday, November 27, while uniformed members followed suit the next day at 10am.
Leading Senior Constable Grace Buckley said police in Werribee and across the state “just don’t feel recognised by the organisation“.
“All the people sitting in these high positions of power and decision-making are police, so that is what’s really disappointing,“ she said.
“They’ve been in our position, but now they are turning around and saying you should be happy with what you get.”
She said many officers are frustrated by protocols they deemed a hindrance to their capacity to respond.
“People join because they do want to help people and then they don’t realise that we have so many archaic admin and computer systems,“ she said.
“A family violence job might be half an hour on the job but then at least two hours of paper work.”
“The paper work is exhausting.
“In our jobs we see things that the average person will never ever see.“
The Police Association of Victoria (TPAV) secretary Wayne Gatt said members want Victoria Police to return to the bargaining table.
TPAV said its members are seeking a 6 per cent pay rise per annum over four years and an end to unpaid work.
A state government spokesperson said it had delivered a record $4.5 billion for Victoria Police and sought the assistance of the Fair Work Commission in progressing bargaining.
“Victoria Police officers play a critical role in protecting the community and saving lives, and we are grateful for their vital service to the state,” the spokesperson said.
