Rejection of on-duty status strengthens our resolve

The Force yesterday notified superintendents, inspectors and officers in charge that it will not approve on-duty status for members who attend the landmark rally at Rod Laver Arena, the march to Parliament House or our series of pre-rally meetings.

The Force also advised that members taking sick leave may be required to produce a medical certificate.

The taking of sick leave and the requirement to provide a medical certificate is covered by the Workplace Agreement 2007. The Agreement states that members must provide a certificate only when absent for a period exceeding three consecutive rostered shifts.

Any demand by a supervisor or manager for a member to provide a medical certificate for a single-day absence (or refusal to grant sick leave without a medical certificate) is a breach of the Agreement. 

There is also strong reason to believe that the Force’s action is in breach of freedom of association provisions of the Workplace Relations Act.

The Force’s heavy-handed approach is hardly surprising given its many recent attempts to gag members who stand up and speak out.

It is abundantly clear that the Force has no interest in hearing about the real problems facing members and their families. Why else would it try to unlawfully prevent your attendance at the rally, stop your participation in the recent Herald Sun survey or reprimand individuals who expose chronic resource shortages at their stations?

The Force is running scared that your attendance at Rod Laver will expose its gross mismanagement and mistreatment of members.

The Force’s rejection of our request for on-duty status only strengthens our resolve to be heard at Rod Laver on April 8. We will not continue to work in dangerously under-resourced conditions. We will not be passive about the threat of the Improper Associations policy. We will not accept draconian changes to the Police Regulation Act or be governed by a reckless and ineffective OPI. 

GIVE POLICE A CHANCE!

11am, Tuesday 8 April – Rod Laver Arena – then a march to Parliament

Supported by

Paul Mullett

Secretary