It's time for - The Police Association Victoria
It's time for - The Police Association Victoria
It's time for - The Police Association Victoria
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photos by gregnoakes.com<br />
Resounding call <strong>for</strong> action<br />
More than 2,000 members of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Association</strong> sent<br />
a clear message to the government when they voted<br />
unanimously to endorse planned industrial action at a<br />
special general meeting held earlier this month.<br />
It was standing room only at Dallas Brooks<br />
and there was no doubt in the mood of the<br />
meeting. <strong>The</strong> ‘ayes’ rang out through the<br />
hall as members rejected the disgraceful<br />
pay offer that would see them earning less<br />
over coming years.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> <strong>time</strong> to talk is over. <strong>The</strong> <strong>time</strong> <strong>for</strong> action is<br />
here," said Secretary Greg Davies. <strong>The</strong> message<br />
to government was clear. "If you want a fight<br />
we will give you a fight. It won’t be one we<br />
started and it won’t be one we wanted ... but<br />
it will be one we will finish. Send the message<br />
that you are sick to death of politicians<br />
destroying the police <strong>for</strong>ce of this state and<br />
treating its members with contempt."<br />
Discussing tradeoffs called <strong>for</strong> by the Force,<br />
members at the meeting showed their<br />
disgust at how the Force plans to treat<br />
its people who cannot be OSTT qualified.<br />
Sergeant Phil Cleggett, who has policed from<br />
a wheelchair since a car accident in 1985<br />
said the plan to rid the Force of members<br />
who are not OSTT qualified "must be<br />
discriminatory".<br />
A member of the Highway Patrol told<br />
the story of his life in the months<br />
since an accident on duty left him dependent<br />
If you want a fight<br />
we will give you a<br />
fight. It won’t be<br />
one we started<br />
and it won’t be<br />
one we wanted ...<br />
but it will be one<br />
we will finish.<br />
> Greg DAVIes<br />
on drugs to get through the work day and<br />
fighting to retain his position. "This can<br />
happen to you," he said. "It just doesn’t<br />
impact on your work life. It impacts on your<br />
home life and the lives of your family."<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was never any doubt of how the<br />
members felt. <strong>The</strong>y are appalled by the<br />
pay offer put on the table by the Bailleau<br />
Government. <strong>The</strong> intention of the industrial<br />
action strategy, that was also discussed at<br />
ABOVE: <strong>The</strong> bike patrol arrives at the meeting.<br />
the meeting, won’t put public safety at risk<br />
but will cost the government money - and<br />
lots of it.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> tactics in the industrial action strategy<br />
are designed to allow most members to<br />
participate and to have an impact on the<br />
Government and <strong>Victoria</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Command<br />
rather than the public. <strong>The</strong> action will<br />
not compromise community safety,"<br />
said Greg Davies.<br />
BELOW: Members arrive at the meeting.<br />
BELOW: Sergeant Phil Cleggett at the meeting.<br />
08 Protect Represent Support. www.tpav.org.au