‘Breaking point’: Hundreds of police officers walk off job over pay dispute in Victoria

Hundreds of police officers have walked off the job as tensions rise over payrise disputes.

Victoria Police officers walked out of the Spencer Street precinct in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD for an hour from 11am on Friday, demanding a 24 per cent payrise across four years.

Victoria Police Association chief executive officer Wayne Gatt called it an act of “defiance”, saying action of this magnitude was “unheard of”.

“(Officers want to) send a message to the government and to their commander that they deserve to be treated properly and with respect,” Mr Gatt said.

He claimed negotiations had “ceased” after members rejected an enterprise proposal.

“Officers above all are asking to be treated with the respect that they deserve,” he said.

“Our members work countless hours of unpaid overtime — their good will is keeping Victoria Police afloat, keeping the community as safe as they can despite the dwindling numbers of police (officers).”

There was a hearing through the Fair Work Commission on November 18.

A banner scrawled with “Breaking Point” was hung up outside the Spencer Street station on Friday morning.

Police at Mill Park in Melbourne’s northeast undertook similar action on Thursday according to a Facebook post from the Police Association of Victoria.

“Police at Mill Park have today taken industrial action in support of fair pay and conditions so that we can attract badly needed recruits and stop the concerning exodus of members leaving,” the post read.

“Your safety depends on it.

“Please support your police by telling your local Members of Parliament that our police deserve a fair go.”

Officers have also walked out from Werribee, Boroondara, Northcote, Wodonga, Bayside, Preston and Shepparton over the last week.