The police union and the state Labor government are negotiating a new enterprise agreement that includes demands for four per cent pay rises and better working conditions, such as nine hour shifts.Â
The previous agreement was struck in 2019 and will expire next Thursday.
The results of a ballot asking the union's 17,500 members whether they supported taking industrial action over the stalled negotiations were revealed on Friday with 99 per cent voting yes.
Should the strike go ahead, union members could place indefinite bans on working beyond ordinary rostered hours without claiming overtime.
They could indefinitely or periodically stop performing duties, if safe to do so, and disrupt some traffic duties.
A public campaign with messages of their concerns scrawled on police cars, boats, trucks and helicopters parked in the vicinity of government premises is on the agenda.
They have also threatened to withhold government briefings provided it does not compromise public safety.
Members were disappointed and frustrated with stalled negotiations and expressed that in the highest vote to endorse industrial action since enterprise bargaining was introduced, Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said.
"Our members are overworked, undervalued and always there," he said.
"If Victoria Police want to reverse the 'churn them out and burn them' trend that is enveloping in the force, they've got to deliver a viable and sustainable future for our police and PSOs."
The union's statewide network of delegates will meet early next week to map out plans for the protected industrial action.
13°C