Vic: Slanging precedes important police dispute talks

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2001
Vic: Slanging precedes important police dispute talks

MELBOURNE, Aug 28 AAP - Verbal sparring between the Victorian government and the police
union has increased ahead of today's compulsory appearance in the Australian Industrial
Relations Commission.

Police work bans gave "the green light to crime", according to Police Minister Andre
Haermeyer - a claim which incensed the union.

The suggestion was outrageous, Police Association state secretary Paul Mullet said.

"Each and every police officer in Victoria has been working as hard as they can preventing
crime with limited resources and stretched to the absolute limit," he said.

Week three of the dispute over a pay rise and changes to career structures began with
the threat of bans on mobile patrols, in addition to the 22 other bans which have forced
the closure of police stations.

Police union members have decided to suspend mobile patrols from September 9 unless
the government agreed to the union's 13 to 39 per cent pay claim.

In response, the government imposed its own deadline of September 3, threatening to
withdraw its 12 to 24 per cent offer by then unless the union backed down.

In an unrelated dispute, action by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has
halted non-criminal fingerprinting.

The bans are expected to affect the processing of new police recruits, prison officers
and people seeking security clearances for shooting or brothel licences.

Some visa applications may also be blocked.

The action is being taken by 133 Victoria Police forensic officers including more than
70 fingerprint experts, campaigning for employment reclassification and a better pay rate.

AAP ag/clr/mg/br

KEYWORD: POLICE VIC DAYLEAD

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