Action on excessive hours dispute

The Police Association has received a number of complaints from members regarding the implementation of the Excessive Hours Penalty in the Victoria Police Workplace Agreement 2007 by Force Management.

We have written to the Force today outlining these issues; including:

§         The rate of pay applicable to excessive hours;

§         How many hours will constitute excessive hours;

§         Issues related to the approval of excessive hours; and

§         Instances which occurred before the delegation to approve was in place.

We are seeking to meet as soon as possible in an attempt to resolve these issues and have foreshadowed that if a satisfactory conclusion cannot be reached, the Branch will be forced to notify a dispute to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

We remind members of the need to seek prior approval to access payments under clause 6.9.1(c) of the Workplace Agreement and to keep comprehensive notes of circumstances in which the approval is and is not being granted and payment is and is not being made.

Bruce McKenzie

Assistant Secretary