NSW: Police warn of strike action if pay demand not me

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2008
NSW: Police warn of strike action if pay demand not me

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - NSW police warn they will consider industrial action if the state
government doesn't double its 2.5 per cent wage increase offer.

The Police Association of NSW president Bob Pritchard said the government risked losing
more officers if it couldn't match the current inflation rate, which is about 5 per cent.

"The government has come out with a 2.5 per cent offer - that's not only ridiculous,
it's an insult to all police out on the front line," Mr Pritchard told reporters on Monday.

He said more than 1,200 police officers had left the NSW Police Force since the last
state election in March 2007, with many citing low wages and poor conditions as the reason
behind their move.

"We're trying to attract police into this job - good professional people," Mr Pritchard said.

"The government will not be able to sustain the police force if they don't pay decent wages."

Mr Pritchard said he would not rule out industrial action if the government did not
come to the table "in good faith".

"We will take industrial action if necessary," he said.

Mr Pritchard said he couldn't detail what form of action the police union would pursue,
but was adamant it "certainly wouldn't be action that could affect the community".

"We're out there to provide protection for the community. We wouldn't change that in any way."

AAP cjb/pbc/evt/jm

KEYWORD: POLICE NSW

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