Key Points
- Members of the Police Association Victoria have launched industrial action for better pay and working conditions.
- Officers are targeting revenue-raising speed cameras, one of 19 industrial action measures they're implementing.
- Police officers have sprawled messages to the community across more than 2,000 vehicles.
Frustrated police officers and protective services officers in Victoria are turning on their sirens and headlight flashing motorists in a bid to secure better pay and working conditions.
A Police Association Victoria (TPAV) survey revealed that one in four of the state's officers are set to leave the profession in the next 12 months due to feeling burnt out and overworked.
The TPAV said the Victorian government has not addressed key issues raised by the union during five months of negotiations, as it launched industrial action on Sunday.
So why are officers turning on their lights?
Victoria Police targeting speed cameras
Squad cars are parking themselves in front of speed and red light cameras across the state to warn drivers of their whereabouts before they cop a fine.
TPAV secretary Wayne Gatt explained officers were forced to attack the state's revenue after more than 50 meetings failed to produce a result.
"They'll be hitting the government in its hip pocket because it's hitting them in theirs. It's not something that they want to do, but they're forced to do it … to solve this dispute," he said on Sunday.
Why are Victoria Police protesting?
Gatt said the force felt "overworked and undervalued" after tirelessly serving the community.
It is one of 19 industrial action measures that began at 7am on Sunday.
Other actions include helping kids cross the roads at schools, automated voice messages about the action when Victorians call police stations and distributing pamphlets at railway stations.
Slogans like "Wanted: Fair Pay" or "We can't turn out if we burn out" have been written across 2,000 police vehicles.
Gatt said it was "uncharacteristic" for officers, but they needed to communicate their frustration directly with the community.
Victorian police officers have written messages across their vehicles and are distributing information about their industrial action at schools and train stations. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele
What are Victoria Police demanding?
TPAV is advocating for a 4 per cent pay rise and nine-hour work shifts to better accommodate work-life balance for officers.
“These are not unreasonable asks, particularly given the extremely challenging and relentless work our members perform in the resource-challenging environment they currently operate in," Gatt said.
Police officers and PSOs have also been advised by the union not to work unpaid overtime as negotiations continue.
TPAV Secretary Wayne Gatt said officers felt "undervalued" by the current Labor state government. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele
Premier Jacinta Allan says the government won't intervene to break the deadlock between the union and Industrial Relations Victoria.
"The government has made very clear to the people sitting around the table that we expect these negotiations to be conducted in good faith," she told reporters on Sunday.
"Secondly, we want to see them concluded with a strong outcome."
The police association said actions could take days or weeks, depending on when a solution is reached.
