The Western Australian Police Union leadership has rejected the State Government’s latest pay offer despite strong support from its members.
According to the union, 66 per cent of its members responded to a recent ballot on the pay offer with a clear majority – 62 per cent – voting to accept the Government’s offer.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston:
“The union leadership cannot ignore the will of its members. A clear majority of officers who responded to the ballot voted to accept the pay offer.
“The union leadership has been given a mandate to accept the pay offer. To suggest otherwise is simply undemocratic.
“I’m very disappointed that our highly respected police officers will not be getting a wage rise because the Police Union leaders are ignoring what their own members want.
“The Police Union leadership have delayed the process and have prevented this dispute from coming to an end.
“The McGowan Government only ever asked for the Police Union members to consider the offer, and when that happened the deal was supported by a clear majority.
“The Government has been trying to provide a wage rise and better conditions to police officers for many months, which we still want to do, but for whatever reason the Police Union leadership won’t let this happen.
“I feel very sorry for our hardworking police officers who are missing out on this offer from the Government.”
