Vic: Morale low after police pay decision, union

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2003
Vic: Morale low after police pay decision, union

MELBOURNE, Dec 29 AAP - Morale was low in the middle ranks of the Victoria police after
a ruling denying compensation for higher workloads, the police union said today.

The Police Association had argued that senior sergeants were now doing work formerly
done by inspectors, including running police stations, and they should receive an additional
allowance in their pay.

But the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ruled the officers were not entitled
to any extra allowances and there were insufficient funds available to pay for them.

However, it ruled that senior sergeants and officers in charge of police stations and
crime units should be paid overtime when they worked long hours.

Police Association assistant Victorian secretary Bruce McKenzie said senior sergeants'
workloads had increased significantly, and they believed they should be compensated for
the extra responsibility.

"Amongst senior sergeants, morale is very bad," he told AAP.

"They have a view that they are doing much, much more work, and have much, much more
responsibility that has been the case in the past, and they're affected by it."

Inspector McKenzie said senior sergeants who had previously completed their extra work
in their own time would now be encouraged to claim for overtime.

"The commission has reminded Victoria police that senior sergeants, in relation to
undertaking this extra work, should be paid reasonable overtime, and we encourage our
members of that rank to apply for overtime whenever they are required to do that work."

Under recent changes to Victoria police, senior sergeants now have responsibility for
authorising overtime for lower ranks, authorising warrants, and looking after seized property
and drugs.

"Whereas senior management used to make these decisions, now middle management has
responsibility for these areas," Insp McKenzie said.

Comment was being sought from Victoria Police.

AAP bp/gfr/cbs/jlw

KEYWORD: POLICE VIC

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